Number of licensed cars rises to 291,920

Raymond Sammut

Jul 30th 2008, 01:14

No mention by the NSO of how many cars, if any at all, are petrol-electrical.

It becomes increasingly urgent for Malta to start considering potential investment in a plant that can make cheap electrical cars suited to local conditions. Half a million of such vehicles would lead to cleaner soils, plants and freshwater; less noise; much more fun to travel; and above all a most economic and comfortable mode of transport for everyone. And I do not think that technology and materials are all that far away. If Austin Gatt is as tough as he is made to be, here is one hell of a challenge for this big extremely ugly looking macho guy.

Joseph E Briffa

Jul 28th 2008, 19:52

Indeed I agree with J Oatmon. No amount of improvement in public transport will attract substantially more patrons, maybe there might be a marginal increase at best. As long as people can afford a car they will prefer to use their car to their place of work and to the seaside over the weekend, and no amount of increases in fuel will put them off. In Malta most people are comfortably off, distances are short, so consumpton of fuel is low, road licences are low and affordable and so are insurance premiums. Most cars are insured third party fire and theft the minimum allowed by law. There are not so many cars comprehensively insured, and most of these are in the 2 litre + category. As for commercial vehicles - some 50 000 - they pay a mere pittance for a road licence the same as a small car. They are big and heavy, most of them second or third hand, not regularly serviced, use old recycled tyres of different makes and types, great pollutants, cause mayhem to traffic and damage the roads. Where is the 'polluter pays' principle?

J Oatmon

Jul 28th 2008, 16:31

The reasons for the phenominal usage of cars is simple and the same the world over - cars are the best method of personal transport.
Cars are safer (I trust myself more than a 22 year old hot and tired bus driver), they are quicker and go where I need to go, when I want to go (no strikes no waiting around, they run at 3 in the morning), cars have better security (no one I don't know sits in my car or brings along any suspicious packages), they are more healthy (no one is sneeezing or coughing over me in my car, and I know the aircon works). My car is better maintained and newer and safer than most buses ( I have anti lock brakes and always use a seatbelt etc). So if you can afford a car, it is the best choice for your personal transport meeds, and no amount of government promises of better buses or dis-incentivesto driving (like higher parking costs, and fuel taxes) will change these facts.
The whole world has decided that the car is the answer and buses and trains are a 'niche market' for a small portion of the population only.

L Galea

Jul 28th 2008, 16:17

@Annabelle Adami

Agreed with your points.

Joe Tabone-Adami

Jul 28th 2008, 15:19

Main reasons for amount of private cars (nearly 220,000 among a population of over 480,000) either: a) keeping up with the Joneses; or.
b) prosperity of the Maltese!

Annabelle Adami

Jul 28th 2008, 13:48

Reasons for the amount of cars-
*Terrible public transport services
*No buses after 10pm
*Over charging of taxi drivers
*No proper bike lanes
*No proper pavements for walking
Need I say more......................................