Over half of the vehicles inspected during random road checks conducted by the transport regulator last year did not meet the minimum roadworthiness standards, according to Transport Malta’s annual report.

In such cases, a restriction is imposed on the vehicle licence, which is only lifted once it is found to be in good running order.

Transport Malta’s data shows the failure rate was 53.5 per cent, with 1,798 of 3,358 vehicles inspected found not to be roadworthy. Though the rate was a 2.4 per cent increase over the previous year, the number of checks carried out in 2015 was more than double the inspections made in 2014.

An improvement was registered in the roadworthiness of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, with failures dropping from 81.9 to 52 per cent

An improvement was registered in the roadworthiness level of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, with the failure rate dropping from 81.9 to 52 per cent.

Transport Malta also undertakes emission level inspections through a dedicated channel whereby the public can report polluting vehicles by sending a text message. Launched more than a decade ago, this service was initially very popular, with over 1,000 monthly complaints at its peak.

However, in 2008 a National Audit Office report exposed that the regulator was failing to carry out any tests in spite of the thousands of reports filed by SMS. Since then, the service has been in decline.

Last year, just 266 vehicles were called for a test, of which 74 were not inspected, as their owners did not turn up. In such cases, the licence is not renewed until the situation is rectified.

Of the remaining 192 vehicles, 160 passed the test, meaning that just 32, or 16.6 per cent of the total failed.