One World - An Indication on the State of our Environment (04)
Driving forces for environmental change: Vehicle fleet per capita
Is vehicle ownership on the rise?
The number of vehicles per capita rose to 0.70 between 2006 and 2007, after remaining stable at 0.67 between 2003 and 2005.
At approximately two vehicles for every three persons, the number of vehicles in Malta remains high, and has a negative effect on human health, the environment and the economy due to pollution, congestion, accidents, loss of natural areas, and increased land take-up and waste generation. Registered motor vehicles increased by 3.12 per cent to 278,120 between 2006 and 2007, compared to the 2.61 per cent growth rate in 2005-2006.
The increasing trend towards importing second hand vehicles is also a matter of concern, as second hand vehicles in the EU are not required to have the same emissions standards as new vehicles. In 2007, 39 per cent of total imported vehicles were second hand (AdT Licensing and Testing Department).
The use of electric vehicles, which has a positive impact on air pollution since these vehicles do not produce emissions at the point of use, remains low, although it continues to rise slightly. By December last year there were 27 registered electric cars, increasing by 10 vehicles since 2006.
Sources: NSO; NSO (National Statistics Office). 2003. Motor Vehicles, News Release No. 22/2003, February 27, 2003, NSO (National Statistics Office). 2005. Motor Vehicles: October-December 2004, News Release No. 26/2005, February 21, 2005; NSO (National Statistics Office). 2008. Motor Vehicles: October - December 2007. News Release No. 19/2008, February 1, 2008.
Note: Population figure for 2007 is provisional.