They are called 'priority lanes' to encourage the use of public transport and car sharing, but in Malta they are just a convenient excuse for impatient drivers to break the law. 

Footage shot by Times of Malta in Triq Aldo Moro, Marsa shows cars ignoring the law and using the inner priority lane, sometimes known as the bus lane, illegally. 

The priority lane is intended to cater for cars carrying three people or more, buses, taxis, coaches, motorbikes, electric and LPG cars and bicycles. But as the video shows, many motorists use them to bypass traffic, potentially causing a danger to other cars and pedestrians. 

The same infringements can be seen in other priority lanes, such as those at The Strand in Sliema and Msida. 

Last week, Times of Malta noticed dozens of drivers using their mobile phones while driving in Msida. The video prompted a response from the president of the Police Officers' Union, who said officers were sometimes unwilling to issue fines because members of the public were often abusive. 

He said equipping officers with bodycams would encourage enforcement and give police officers more peace of mind when dealing with law flouters. A Times of Malta online poll suggests more than 90 per cent of readers would welcome their introduction. 

Have you noticed anything out of the norm on our streets... even by Maltese standards? Send us an email to mynews@timesofmalta.com

 

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