Reports of road traffic accidents in Malta continue to appear on a far too regular basis. Opinions are expressed which confirm that a large number of residents require measures be taken, yet nothing seems to change.

As a former driving instructor in the UK, with some 15 years experience of teaching drivers in London and for a while a driving test examiner in Malta, I feel that I have more knowledge than most on how to substantially reduce the carnage that happens on Malta’s roads.

Earlier this year, while I was still resident in Malta, I approached the CEO of Transport Malta regarding a number of suggestions that I had. Mindful of how political everything is in Malta, all my proposals were for voluntary rather than mandatory measures. They included detailed plans for the development and delivery of better driving courses, young driver education and advanced driving courses, which could lead to reduced insurance premiums.

After a meeting with the CEO, I left and awaited a reply. Some month or so later, having heard nothing, I e-mailed the CEO. Still no reply was forthcoming. I had also at the time written to the Transport Minister with my suggestions on a better driving course for police drivers, their advanced skills then allowing them to lead by example. Again, I never heard anything back.

I am now living back in the UK but regularly return to Malta to visit good friends and I keep in touch daily by reading Times of Malta.

My point is that the Maltese people deserve better. Knowledge, experience and suggestions are available to the powers that be but there is a complete lack of action by those same powers, despite the rhetoric which can show everything to be in good order (on paper) when in reality this is clearly not the case. Education on a number of levels will mean that accident and injury on Malta’s roads will decrease over time and the need for enforcement (unfortunately always necessary for the few who will disregard everyone else) will be decreased.

Better educated drivers, 16- and 17-year-olds, police drivers and public transport drivers will benefit all islanders. Lives will be saved and demands on health services will be reduced. Votes won’t be lost as all measures would be voluntary and, in my case, anyway, it would have cost very little.

Expensive consultations resulting in reports compiled by consultants with no knowledge or experience of the island, which are not then even implemented, are of very little use.

I wonder how many more lives have to be ruined before the Minister for Transport and Transport Malta actually do something.