Why is it that every time we have a small downpour early in the morning thousands of workers turn up for work late? This question is relevant as it is not only causing road rage among drivers but is also affecting our economy in a most negative way. Still worse, it is once again projecting an image of mediocrity in the way we manage our public services.

There are many reasons behind our dysfunctional traffic management system. Many would agree that the reform in the public transport service has caused more damage to our already creaking transport system. More people are now using private transport than ever before because the reformed public transport system failed to deliver on its promises. The big issue now is how to improve this service without incurring substantial legal damages as a result of revising the service contract signed a few years ago.

Another major problem is the lack of investment in our road system in the past decade. I am not referring only to the quality of our roads but also to the failure to build flyovers in hot traffic spots. The Kappara roundabout area is crying for investment in a functional flyover.

Many argue that we also need more traffic lights in areas where heavy traffic flows from different directions only to cause gridlock when it meets near roundabouts. The roundabout at the end of the Birguma bypass would benefit from the installation of a good traffic lights system. One need hardly stress that traffic lights need to be constantly monitored and programmed to ensure that they do not cause more problems by ignoring the changing traffic flows at different times of the day.

Yet another problem is our new road designs that are becoming increasingly characterised by single lane roads. This may make our roads safer, but the cost is becoming unbearable. The same level of safety can be achieved by proper traffic supervision through the use of speed cameras as well as better vigilance by traffic wardens and police.

But what would probably bring about the quickest improvement in traffic management is the introduction of pragmatic regulations to prevent some of the bottlenecks that are irritating motorists by slowing down traffic. For instance, every morning the Pietà road leading to Valletta is constantly blocked by horse-drawn cabs making their way to Valletta. Why are the owners of these cabs not assisted to transport their cabs and horses to Valletta by mechanised transport, thereby speeding up arrival to their destination?

The Kappara roundabout area is crying for investment in a functional flyover

A similar argument can be made against heavy vehicles using our roads during the rush hours. Our roads are simply not fit to deal with heavy vehicles in the morning and afternoon rush hours, that are extending as time goes by. Allocating specific times when such vehicles can use our roads may seem like a draconian measure but the state of our traffic management system is now reaching crisis levels and something drastic needs to be done not to cause any further economic harm.

Ultimately, the best way to address this debilitating problem is to prepare a long-term traffic management system aimed at eliminating the present gridlock that is paralysing the island for several hours on most days. This will inevitably involve substantial capital investment that needs to be financed by public borrowing. In itself, this creates a big challenge because the state of our public finances is still not sound enough to allow for further increases in our national debt.

But there are less costly tactics that can bring about a significant improvement without necessarily involving massive expenditure.

A big dose of common sense has to be administered to ensure that sensible decisions to ease traffic jams are taken without further delay. If motorists are consulted, I am sure that many fresh ideas will surface that will bring about improvements in traffic management as soon as they are introduced.

The reform of the public transport system remains an important work in progress. Transport Malta should be commended for pulling the dangerous bendy busses off our roads. More needs to be done. Routes need to be revised to ensure that passengers are really well served, punctually and in the most effective way.

Admittedly, Transport Malta still has a steep mountain to climb to win the respect and confidence of the travelling public. This confidence gap can be bridged with political determination.

johncassarwhite@yahoo.com