How irritating and nauseating it is to drive along a number of streets and encounter an array of parked cars sporting the label “for sale” as if the carriageway is no longer intended for the unencumbered use by traffic.

This selfish and inconsiderate habit appears to be tolerated not just in front of dealers or commercial outlets but is also allowed to spread up and down the kerb line regardless of the grave inconvenience and nuisance caused to neighbours.

This outrageous behaviour gives the impression the latter are lesser citizens by depriving or even cheating them of enjoying an equal right to a parking spot.

To top it all, such unruly and space-invasive practice is not just limited to commercial and inhabited localities but is gradually also invading and encroaching upon some already highly beleaguered traffic routes.

It is in the public interest that abuses of his kind be vigorously stopped and disallowed and if need be criminalised.

There is also a crying, urgent need, even at this very late stage, for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to pull its weight and contribute its share to improving the universal parking problem by introducing a mandatory building condition that every new house, flat or building incorporate a garage and, if possible, even a drive-in for its exclusive use – failing which the application should be turned down.

The paramount necessity for the mandatory inclusion of a garage was already clearly visible several decades ago. Unfortunately, as is quite customary with not a few public authorities or bodies, they tend to miss the boat, besides the wood for the trees. Ironically so when one of the main duties of a public authority should be that of ensuring smooth and efficient operations and also the anticipation of social needs and development.