Editorial

A report drawn up by the European Transport Safety Council gave Maltese roads the enviable title of 'safest in the EU'. At 15 deaths in 2008, Malta maintained its position as the EU state with the lowest number of road deaths. But, as most drivers can attest, the statistics clearly give us a false sense of security.

The low fatality rate on the roads is not down to enforcement or because motorists have finally familiarised themselves with the Highway Code. Nor is it down to the increasing number of speed cameras, which have in some cases led to more accidents as speeding vehicles are forced to brake suddenly to meet unrealistically low limits in the wrong places.

It is merely down to the fact that driving distances in Malta are short and the roads are congested, making it more difficult for drivers to put their foot down or fall asleep at the wheel.

The recent death of cyclist Cliff Micallef in a hit-and-run incident has served as a wake-up call to the increasing 'king of the road' attitude adopted by too many drivers. For too long, the cavalier approach of many motorists has been ignored. How many letters expressing concern about driving habits have there been in the newspapers? How many times have people been led to believe that the authorities will clamp down on reckless driving? Or on poorly-maintained vehicles?

The old adage that the 'Maltese drive in the shade' merely underlines the way road safety is treated as a joke. But our driving is no longer a laughing matter.

Drivers of buses, trucks and taxis are among those who believe they have a licence to terrorise others and do as they please.

Every day we see drivers ignoring red lights and pedestrian crossings; cars drifting from lane to lane without indicating; and reckless driving. Cyclists are treated with contempt by motorists who seem to derive pleasure from driving dangerously close and tooting their horns.

Motorists have their fair share of obstacles too. All too often they are forced to overtake buses belching black toxic fumes even in places where it is safer not to. Or avoid potholes which seem to be increasing in size and quantity rather than vice versa.

Most infringements go unpunished because wardens and police are keener to fine vehicles that are parked incorrectly in busy areas, or motorists who cross a continuous white line on a dead straight road.

According to the National Statistics Office, the number of licensed vehicles at the end of June reached nearly 300,000 - that means three cars for every four individuals in Malta.

Yet public buses and taxis remain a poor option. The former are woefully inefficient, while the latter are horrendously expensive. There seems to be no workable solution in the offing.

All this contributes to a recipe whereby the 3,700 traffic accidents reported in the second quarter of this year can only increase.

It might take years to instil basic education, so the authorities need to go back to basics and reintroduce campaigns to hammer home the message. In the meantime, traffic police and wardens should be given clear instructions to come down hard on those who are causing the problems, rather than those who are not.

Of course, there might be a political price to pay. But more road users than ever can no longer tolerate the authorities turning a blind eye to the problem.