The Maltese roads continue to claim more lives. This year, the toll is already alarmingly up, a very sad statistic that, no matter how much we try, no one seems to be able to curb.
Surely, it is not the right time to point fingers and it is not my intention to do so. That will not ease the situation or help find solutions. However, without entering into the merits of each case, one issue stands out clear – we need to be more responsible when sharing our roads.
Sad as it may be, these accidents have now provided the backdrop against which our company, Express Trailers, has just announced sponsorships to three sports associations – two athletic clubs and a cycling club.
In fact, it is within this exact context that we have always been very vocal about the importance that everyone needs to use our roads responsibly. Our company’s operations are mainly based on road transport. We have a network of operations across all of mainland Europe but the start and finish of each delivery happens on Malta’s roads.
Although we are doing a necessary job in transporting food, pharma and cargo for the ultimate benefit and consumption of the local market, we also acknowledge that our fleet of trucks and trailers put a burden on all the other road users, especially the more vulnerable ones such as runners and cyclists.
This is why we have been engaging a lot with a number of sports clubs in the field of road-related sports whose competitions take place on our roads.
By supporting some of these clubs’ road events, we are not only seeking to redress the balance but also using this as an opportunity to push the message that our roads are here for everyone.
On the road, irrespective of the means of transport, everyone is vulnerable
This is further highlighted by the fact that in Malta, space is very limited. This means that people who want to lead an active lifestyle tend to take to the road to practice a sport. Runners, cyclists and all those who simply want to put in their daily walk have to coexist with the increasing number of cars and commercial vehicles on our already very strained road network.
Having said that, it has been very encouraging noting how over the past years, more and more people have been taking up a more active lifestyle. Indeed, sport is a very important element, which provides a holistic way of self-development.
I myself come from a very strong sport background. It is therefore natural that I encourage our own people to practice sport and we do have a number of employees who are successful members of some of these clubs. Companies should encourage and support employees into takingup a sport.
Another highly interesting aspect we noticed was the fact that since our company started sponsoring sports events, we have seen a gradual increase in the number of our employees taking up a sport. Nowadays we make arrangements for them to participate in these clubs’ events and as a result more of our employees have taken up an active lifestyle.
Our company’s support to sport is also linked to our corporate social responsibility. We believe that CSR goes beyond the periodic contribution towards a good cause but has to be an all-year-round responsibility – a company’s way of being.
We support road sport because it helps us engage with the community be it the workers, our customers and our stakeholders. A better community is in everyone’s interest.
Our message goes beyond the sponsorship of sport events. We want to deliver a message of respect towards all road users. There is no such thing as ‘King of the Road’. On the road, irrespective of the means of transport, everyone is vulnerable. Therefore, everyone must respect and be respected.
There already exists more awareness about safety on the road. However, we all agree that it is never going to be enough. We need to keep working harder to avoid more tragic headlines.
Franco Azzopardi is an executive in the road haulage business.