Car pooling can be rewarding

If you see a traffic warden scribbling in his notebook as you drive past him on Car Free Day on September 22 you don't necessarily need to hold your breath as he could actually be including you in a car pooling lottery.

During this year's Car Free Day, wardens have been instructed to take note of cars seen carrying three or more passengers in a bid to promote car pooling and reduce the number of cars on the roads.

Drivers should be careful not to exceed the vehicle's legal carrying capacity, otherwise they still risk being fined, the entities taking part in the Car Free Day activities warned. The Ministry for Environment and Rural Affairs, the Roads Ministry, the Ministry of Health, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Malta Transport Authority said this year's Car Free Day will be themed Clever Commuting.

They said a number of prizes offered by private companies - including a holiday to Euro Disney, Air Malta and Virtù Ferries tickets, weekend breaks at the Mgarr Hotel and a number of vouchers - would be awarded to 10 winning cars. Each winning car will receive five prizes.