Police have stepped up measures across the island ahead of this evening’s New Year’s Eve festivities in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year’s fatal car accident.

Last year, a drink-driving incident cost 22-year-old law student Matthew Meilak his life. He was a passenger in a car being driven by another reveller who was later found by a court expert to have been over the legal alcohol limit.

Mario Tonna, who heads the police’s Traffic Division, told the Times of Malta that roadblocks would be set up across the entire island. The traffic and district police together with the Rapid Intervention Unit and Dog Section will be conducting road checks in villages, cities as well as along a number of arterial roads.

Mr Tonna said the officer complement had been increased ahead of tonight’s celebrations and they had been given instructions to carry out “lots” of breathalyser tests.

Police, however, are not the only ones preparing for this evening’s festivities.Bus operator Malta Public Transport has set up a special night service which will run till 2.30am tomorrow.

“Public transport will be the most convenient way to travel to and from Valletta this New Year’s Eve. Customers will avoid parking problems and may drink moderately without worrying about driving,” a spokesman for the company said.

Many, however, have made alternative arrangements, seeking private transport solutions. Taxi operator Wembley Motors said their 15 taxis had been fully booked for this evening for some time.

“From around 8pm onwards we are fully booked, and it’s not just cabs; our mini vans, some of which take up to 16 people, are all fully booked. It just makes sense not to drive on a night like this. You won’t have to worry about having had too much to drink and how you’re getting home,” a spokesman for the company said.

Meanwhile, Transport Malta has been making arrangements for those who will still be out on the roads tonight. A spokesman for the authority said Park and Ride services would run until 2.30am. The Barrakka Lift will be open until 4am and would be free from 5pm onwards. The ferry service will run until 3am.

“For the safety of commuters the area around the old bus terminus has been cordoned off and TM officers will be on site to assist,” the spokesman said, adding that pedestrians would not be allowed to cut through the terminus or hang out around the Triton Fountain from 7pm onwards. The authority yesterday distributed more than 1,000 breathalysers in Valletta, as part of a drink-driving awareness campaign.

Transport Minister Joe Mizzi fully supports the campaign: “Protect yourself and your loved ones, don’t drink and drive.”

NYE bus routes leaving Valletta

The public transport service will operate a reduced service on New Year’s Day. Buses will operate a Sunday time schedule and will stop operating at lunch time. Services will then resume normal operation between 3pm and 4pm.

The Gozo ferry service will be interrupted on New Year’s Day between noon and 3pm. The last trip from Mġarr will be at 11.15am, while the last trip from Cirkewwa will be at noon. The service will resume at 3pm from Mġarr, while the first trip from Ċirkewwa will be at 3:45pm.