New regulations including licence and insurance requirements for animal-drawn vehicles were issued today by the Ministry of Transport and will be brought into force gradually over the next six months.
The regulations also ban certain categories of animal-drawn vehicles from the roads during rush hours.
They provide that no animal or animal-drawn vehicle may be used on the roads unless licensed.
Licence A is for karrozzin, Licence B for any other animal-drawn vehicle
that is used for the conveyance of passengers and Licence C for an animal-drawn vehicle used for the carriage of goods or by street hawkers. Licence D will be issued to an animal-drawn vehicle, which is neither used for hire or reward nor for the carriage of goods, which may include a serkin, a xarretta and vintage and traditional animal-drawn vehicles.
Licence E will be issued for animals used for riding under saddle.
No licences will be issued unless the applicant presents an animal’s identity document issued by the Director of Veterinary Services and a certificate on the
animal’s general physical condition issued by a licensed veterinarian.
No licence shall be issued or renewed unless the animal-drawn vehicle is already covered by an insurance policy.
An identification number plate shall be issued and must be clean and visible at all times.
No animal or animal-drawn vehicle may be used on the road unless its rider or driver wears a high visibility vest at all times
No animal or animal-drawn vehicle may be used on the road unless its rider or driver wears a high visibility vest at all times.
No person may ride any animal on the road without the use of a saddle.
The insurance must indemnify the person specified in the policy in respect of any liability in respect of the death or bodily injury to any person, or damage to any property caused by the animal or animal-drawn vehicle for a total liability of not less than €250,000 those those holding licenses A, B and C and not less than €125,000 for those holding licences D and E.
No one may ride an animal under saddle or drive an animal-drawn vehicle on a road unless he is the holder of a relevant animal or animal-drawn vehicle driving
licence.
The regulations lay down that animal-drawn vehicles must be kept in good order and the animals are well groomed, fit and capable to draw the vehicle.
They establish that a bio-degradable chemical is to be poured over animal urine by drivers so as to break down and eliminate accumulated agents and odours, and the drivers shall ensure that the chemical is used in a manner not to cause
injury or harm to the animal.
Transport Malta may establish that wheels should be covered by rubber.
Drivers will have to ensure that their animal has a catching net, apron or other device approved by Transport Malta to catch the animal’s excrement.
Drivers shall, furthermore, clean from the road any animal urine and any
excrement that is not caught in the net at the first available opportunity and clean the net or apron and dispose of the excrement at the first available opportunity.
Operators and drivers of karrozzini are required to keep karrozzin stands clean at all times and shall ensure that such stands are provided with a constant supply of fresh water.
The regulations list specifications for lighting when animal-drawn vehicles are used after sunset.
The regulations include a schedule of fares for karrozzini
Animals under saddle which are used after sunset have to be equipped with high visibility leg and tail straps and martingale. Riders must wear helmets.
The rules provide that no animal driven vehicle other than police cavalry, military parades and karozzini ( Licence A or B) may be used on any road between 7am and 9am and between 4pm and 6pm except on Saturdays, Sundays and national and public holidays and for traditional and folkloristic horse races when a permit has been issued.
Roads on which animal races may be held with the prior written
authorisation of the authority
IN MALTA:
Triq Ta’ Srina; Rabat
Triq San Ġuzepp; Żejtun/Żabbar
IN GOZO:
Triq Tax-Xagħra