Traffic congestion is a bigger headache for the Maltese than for any other EU nationality, with the vast majority viewing it as a major problem and more than half convinced it will only get worse.
No other people are as affected as the Maltese by the resulting air and noise pollution, according to a Eurobarometer survey.
Ninety-seven per cent felt heavy traffic was a major problem, some 20 per cent higher than second-placed Greece.
Foot traffic was also a problem for the Maltese, with 10 per cent saying they never walked at all
The Maltese were also among the most pessimistic on the issue, with 57 per cent believing traffic congestion will get worse.
Less than a quarter of Europeans believe the urban traffic situation will get any better, with two thirds saying it will stay the same or escalate.
The most optimistic results emerged in Sweden, where nearly half the respondents expected the traffic situation to get better.
Interestingly, Sweden was also the country with the highest overall driver satisfaction.
The local situation was exacerbated by pollution. Malta again topped the list of concerned motorists, with a majority of respondents viewing traffic-created pollution as “a very serious problem”.
Some nine in 10 Maltese felt noise pollution was a constant problem and 95 per cent felt the same way about air pollution, followed by Greece (87 per cent) and Bulgaria (85 per cent).
Portuguese and Finnish respondents were the least affected by pollution clocking in at 47 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.
Foot traffic was also a problem for the Maltese, with 10 per cent saying they never walked at all.
Some 57 per cent said they walked around town at least once a day, putting Malta at seventh from the bottom.
The study also highlighted an interesting link between congestion and traffic accidents.
Malta, again, had the highest result, with drivers perceiving the strongest link between congestion and traffic accidents.
Some 86 per cent viewed erratic driving, speeding and the resulting accidents as being the cause of heavy traffic.
Around a quarter of Europeans encountered regular problems when travelling in built-up areas. These, however, occurred most in Malta (74 per cent), followed by Greece (65 per cent) and Cyprus (63 per cent).
The main traffic problem affecting local motorists was access to activities, commercial areas and delayed commutes.
Nearly seven out of 10 Maltese believe the government should be held responsible for the situation and the State tasked with re-ducing traffic.
Earlier this year Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said a reform in public transport would improve drivers’ experience but the study found that Maltese were not convinced.
Only a third felt that a review of public transport routes and prices would improve the situation at all.