Wearing a headset to answer calls from behind the wheel is a legal alternative to wireless hands-free technology, as long as you only use one ear, according to the head of the traffic police.

Mario Tonna, the officer in charge of the police’s Traffic Branch, said hands-free systems which connected to an external speaker system (such as those linked to car radios) were preferred. Single headphones were permissible as long as one ear was free to listen to traffic.

Mr Tonna was commenting after a social media debate raised doubts over the legality of the headset system. Writing on Facebook, Michael Spiteri said he had recently been pulled over by a warden while wearing a headset and found himself in an argument over their legality.

“I was pulled over by one of these wardens who sit outside tunnels checking if your headlamps are on. As he was giving me a ticket he said, ‘And you know you can’t wear headphones?’. I thought, ‘Can’t I?’ to myself.”

According to Mr Tonna you can but others might argue against it.

International road safety campaigners Brake launched a campaign about mobile phone use, highlighting hands-free technology as a no-go.

The charity wants drivers to turn off their phones and callers to refuse to speak to someone who is on the road.

I’ve even seen iPads pulled out

Government figures show that no fines have been issued so far this year for the use of headsets, however, this has not always been the case. In 2009 this newspaper reported how 3,697 had been reprimanded for “wearing headphones or other similar devices which hinder hearing or are likely to hinder from hearing properly”.

Mr Tonna’s comments also followed a report by The Sunday Times of Malta revealing that the fines to motorists caught using their phones while driving were set to double. Traffic consultant Pierre Vella said the government was preparing to roll out a campaign to enforce stricter penalties in the coming weeks. This would see fines increase to around €100.

Some 2,000 motorists are fined every month for using their phones while driving – around 15,000 fines from wardens and traffic police since 2014. Mr Vella said drivers were becoming increasingly blasé about using their phones. “I have seen it all, even iPads pulled out on the road.

“What’s worse is that some companies are telling employees to use their phones while driving, as long as it is for work, and the employers will cover the fine,” he said.

Last week, the Times of Malta reported that motorists had destroyed more than 1,200 road signs, bus stops and other street furniture so far this year. Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said many cases resulted from drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel.

“This is something we really have to tackle,” he said.