No legislation banning those learning to drive from the roads during peak hours actually exists, sources close to Transport Malta have confirmed.
Transport Malta in September ordered driving schools not to use arterial roads while giving lessons, in a move which caused an uproar among them.
While admitting that there was no legal basis for a ban, the sources said legislation was in the pipeline.
“For the moment, Transport Malta is just asking learners to refrain from using arterial roads during rush hour. No fines are being given for driving schools which do not obey the request,” the sources said.
When the ban legislation is drafted, driving schools would be consulted, the sources said.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat played down the ‘ban’, saying that learners would still be getting driving experience on secondary roads.
Transport Malta is just asking learners not to use arterial roads at rush hour
A spokesman for Transport Malta said that the initiative was one of a series of measures the transport watchdog was implementing to mitigate the impact of traffic during the school year.
He said Transport Malta was asking learners to “refrain” from using arterial roads, and clarified that lessons could still be held during rush hour on secondary roads and all other areas. The spokesman added that arterial and distributor roads totalled only 400 kilometres of roads in a network of 2,400 kilometres.
Describing arterial and distributor roads as the “backbone” of Malta’s transport infrastructure, the spokesman said that Transport Malta was trying to maximise the efficiency of Malta’s limited road capacity when it was most in demand.
He said that the measure would not solve traffic congestion on its own, but would be one of numerous initiatives.
In a similar exercise, animal-drawn vehicles were recently banned from arterial and distributor roads in peak hours to increase the efficiency of main roads, but more importantly to improve road safety, the spokesman said.
He also pointed out that Transport Malta had also asked local councils not to issue permits for cranes and other heavy machinery, so that they do not block roads during the morning rush hour.
Haphazard permits, at times, blocked transit roads for drivers, making them go round and round, causing further delays elsewhere, he said.
In 2013, the government said it intended to hold consultations with a view to banning heavy vehicles during rush hours.
The plan was vehemently opposed by the influential construction lobby and was eventually dropped.