Driving test

I refer to Ms Nikki Abela's letter (The Sunday Times, January 16). The reasons behind the recent reform in the driving test are many. The Malta Transport Authority (ADT) is committed to improving road safety and, like other 42 European countries, has pledged to try and reduce road accident injuries and deaths by half before 2012.

Statistics gathered by the ADT reveal that a third of all drivers killed or injured over the past few years were aged between 18 and 20. Moreover, a high proportion of passengers killed or injured were travelling in cars driven by persons in this age group.

Following an intensive period of planning and training of ADT examiners and motoring school driving instructors, the ADT finally replaced the old outdated driving test system with a new two-part driving test - a theoretical part and a practical part.

While we understand that many candidates have to pay for their driving lessons and the test itself, we feel that safety on our roads can never be compromised. The upgrade in driver testing standards in Malta has been recognised throughout the EU and nowadays the holder of a Maltese driving licence living abroad is fully entitled to exchange his licence for a licence of his new country of residence, without having to re-sit the test. It is undoubtedly thanks to better driver testing and training that our young drivers today are now being much better prepared for all the potential perils of driving on our and foreign roads.

With reference to another letter in the same issue regarding the number of standing passengers on a bus, the law stipulates that it is not permitted to have more than 12 standing passengers. To this end, disciplinary action will be taken against any driver caught carrying more than the stipulated amount of passengers.

As per agreement signed last year between the government, the ADT and the Public Transport Association, a code of conduct that will regulate, among other things, the drivers' dress-code while at work, punctuality, efficiency, collection of bus fares, proper maintenance and cleanliness of the buses and bus driver behaviour with passengers is being introduced. Consequently, any driver breaching the code of conduct will be fined without the need to appear in court and be officially charged with the offence.