Wardens to replace police in road accident reports

Drivers involved in traffic accidents will no longer have to face lengthy delays for the police to turn up and draw up a sketch, as local wardens are stepping in to do the job.

The wardens' operators are guaranteeing they will turn up on the accident scene within half an hour as part of a new procedure expected to come into effect on January 19.

The Association of Local Councils, the Police Commissioner, the wardens' operators and the Malta Insurance Association will hold a meeting on Monday to finalise the agreement.

The move is part of a wide-ranging effort to transfer police officers from traffic and other administrative duties to more serious issues, such as fighting crime.

Kenneth DeMartino, general manager of Guard and Warden Services Ltd, and the president of the Association of Local Councils, Ian Micallef explained that 18 wardens were initially earmarked to undergo a two-week training programme before taking on the full-time task.

A number of former police and army officers are also being enticed to join the wardens for a second course, which is being held in the first week of February.

If the need arises, especially on days when slippery roads result in a multitude of accidents, a back-up team is also being trained.

An estimated 35 accidents a day require police intervention.

Another system introduced some years back, which enables drivers to fill in a form in the case of a bumper-to-bumper collision, had done wonders to free up police officers.

Dr Micallef explained that sketches will no longer be hand-written but will be inputted into a hand-held computer, the details of which would be submitted at once to the insurance companies.

Should the accident result in injuries or fatalities, or if there is anything suspicious, the wardens will still be obliged to contact the police.

The number of reported accidents in the third quarter of last year reached 3,637, according to the National Statistics Office.

A total of 182 drivers sustained injuries as a result of traffic accidents; of these, 140 were slight injuries and the other 42 suffered either grievous or fatal injuries.

In the same period, 92 pedestrians and 107 passengers were injured.

Mr DeMartino told The Times the change is expected to come into effect on January 19, provided a minor legal technicality is ironed out by then. Should this not be the case, the new system would be introduced on February 1.

Mr DeMartino admitted that the measure could help the image of wardens, as they will be perceived as offering a service rather than merely enforcing the law.

Another change, concerns clamping and towing, both of which are to be delegated to wardens. In the near future, those whose car is towed can go directly to a given car park and pay on the spot, even with a credit or debit card.

At present, drivers first have to go to the police station and pay in cash before collecting their car.