The Malta Developers Association is resisting efforts by the government to ban trucks from the roads during rush hour traffic, suggesting a number of alternatives.
In a meeting last week between Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and some 15 contractors, all MDA members, the association insisted heavy vehicles were not contributing to congestion.
It accepted that trailers with “abnormal loads”, such as boats and machinery for construction, should not be allowed on the roads during the rush hour but made it clear it would not accede to removing all heavy vehicles at that time.
Heavy vehicles are made to respect highway code
Among the measures proposed, the MDA is suggesting that heavy vehicles are made to respect the highway code and drive on the inner lane. It is enforcement that is the solution to traffic congestion, according to the association, and not the vehicles themselves.
“Let’s have an education campaign and enforce the law by issuing fines. The association will help the government with that,” MDA president Sandro Chetcuti said.
The association agreed to concede a ban on the unloading of trucks in arterial roads during the rush hours. “We will not object to this restriction,” he added.
‘Trucks don’t cause congestion’
He said the MDA was being “proactive” and putting concrete proposals forward to address the traffic congestion problem.
Mr Chetcuti said the suggestion to reduce licence fees for small motorcycles to €10 – announced in the last Budget – was the MDA’s. He said the association had also proposed that more effort should be made to have dedicated lanes for motorcycles.
On public transport, Mr Chetcuti said the MDA had also proposed to make it free of charge in rush hours.
However, he would not accept that slow-moving trucks going through single lane roads were contributing to congestion.
“Trucks are not the cause of congestion, which is the worst when schools start and when it rains heavily. In summer, we have no problem and it is then that most trucks are out on the road because the bulk of the sector’s work is done in those months,” he pointed out.
caroline.muscat@timesofmalta.com