Consultation papers, aimed at setting a higher safe-driver standard, will be published later on this year, traffic expert Major Peter Ripard told an international conference this morning.

The papers would be mainly aimed at improving the overall level of driver training and testing with particular emphasis on an improved assessment strategy for driving instructors, he said.

This will also include continuous professional development for both the instructors and examiners, he said, adding that emphasis had to be made on quality.

"It is felt that it is time what we all have a closer look at the quality of training with a view to ensuring that it is designed to produce safe drivers for life and not merely drivers competent enough to pass their driving test," he said.

Major Ripard was addressing members of the International Commission for Driver Testing (Cieca) during its 43rd conference held in Malta.

Major Ripard, a vice president within Cieca, also quoted some statistics that put the overcrowded driving scenario in Malta into context. There are currently 236,000 licenses drivers that make use of a geographical area of 316 square kilometres in Malta and Gozo.

Major Ripard, 74, was the only serious casualty of the December 2 explosion at the Transport Malta offices in Sa Maison. His left leg had to be amputated above the knee but his fighting spirit kept him active and he is now walking with the help of a leg prosthesis.