Spiċċajna li ta’ kuljum qegħdin nisimgħu b’inċidenti gravi uħud minnhom li jwasslu għall-mewt fit-toroq tagħna. Huma ħafna l-kawzi li jwasslu għal dan u hemm bżonn li  nindirizzawhom. Ma rridux ninsew li l-karozza tista’ tkun arma jekk użata b’mod traskurat jew taħt xi effett ta’ xi sustanza. Dan qaluh kelliema ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Brian Decelis u Ralph Cassar, illum filgħodu waqt konferenza stampa quddiem l-uffiċċji ta’ Transport Malta Ħal Lija.

Il-PRO ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Brian Decelis qal li “Waħda mill-akbar kawżi tal-incidenti fit-toroq hija l-veloċità eċċessiva. Ir-regoli tas-sewqan mhux qed jiġu osservati, u hawn attitudni ta’ laissez-faire fit-toroq. Hemm bżonn rispons aktar malajr minn pulizija fit-toroq speċjalment f’toroq arterjali fejn isiru ‘tlielaq’ billejl, xi kultant b’konsegwenzi koroh. Dan mhix aċċettabbli. Li ssuq karozza mhux dritt imma privileġġ u jekk ma bżajtx għal dan il-privileġġ jittieħed. Il-veloċità eċċessiva u sewqan traskurat għandu jwassal għat-teħid tal-liċenzja tas-sewqan. L-istess is-sewqan taħt l-effett tas-sustanzi.

“Il-fatt li hemm ammont kbir ta’ karozzi fit-toroq huwa fatt li ma jghinx biex ikun hemm inqas inċidenti. Il-fatt li kellna infrastruttura mhux ippjanata għal dan il-volum ma tgħinx. Fis-sena 2025 nippretendu li meta jkollna bdil fl-infrastruttura tat-toroq li tiswa l-miljuni mit-taxxi tagħna din l-infrastuttura tkun intiża li tinkludi mhux esklussivament il-karozzi imma anke mezzi oħra bħar-rota u li jkun hemm bankini li tista’ timxi fuqhom b’mod sigur. Hemm bżonn li biex innaqqsu l-ammont ta’ karozzi fit-toroq ikunu assigurati modi oħra siguri ta’ trasport. Karozzi tal-linja effiċjenti għax ikollhom prijorità fit-toroq, sistema ta’ Bus Rapid Transit, u l-użu tal-baħar u trasport marittimu huma kollha modi oħra li nistgħu bihom intaffu l-volum tal-karozzi. B’naqra aktar ħsieb u b’aktar diskussjoni ma’ stakeholders differenti jista’ jkollna aktar sikurezza fit-toroq tagħna u inqas traffiku.”

Is-Segretarju Ġenerali ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Dr Ralph Cassar qal li l-gvern qed jagħmel bil-kontra ta’ dak li qed isir f’ħafna bliet u lokalitajiet fl-Ewropa. Cassar qal li l-pożizzjoni ta’ ADPD-The Green Party hija waħda ċara: L-għan għandu jkun li l-ispazji pubbliċi m’għandhomx jiġu kapparrati mill-karozzi, iżda aktar u aktar spazju għandu jingħata lil mezzi ta’ transport aktar nodfa u li jagħmlu ħafna anqas ħsara lil saħħitna, filwaqt li jużaw ferm anqas spazju fit-toroq. Irridu toroq aktar sikuri, clampdown fuq sewqan perikoluż u anke pieni ta’ teħid tal-liċenzji permanenti tas-sewqan lil min jikkawża inċidenti minħabba veloċità eċċessiva, traskuraġni u negliġenza. Kull min juża mezzi ta’ trasport, huma x’inhuma b’mod traskurat għandu jerfa’ r-responsabilità tat-traskuraġni tiegħu.”

“Il-proposti tagħna huma ċari kristall. Bħala bidu effettiv ta’ mixja lejn mobilità sostenibbli f’żoni ċentrali tal-pajjiż hemm bżonn ta’ rotot sikuri għar-roti, pedelecs u e-scooters, per eżempju li jgħaqqdu lokalitajiet viċin il-Belt, li jgħaqqdu lokalitajiet viċin istitutuzzjonijiet edukattivi bħall-Università, l-Higher Secondary, u l-MCAST, u li jgħaqqdu lokalitajiet ġirien bħal Marsaskala, Ħaż-Żabbar, Marsaxlokk u Birżebbuġa. Hemm bżonn nibdew minn x’imkien, immedjatament.”

“Minbarra toroq prinċipali fejn neċessarjament ikollok rotot segregati, huwa importanti li toroq oħra, b’interventi fid-disinn tagħhom, veloċitajiet massimi baxxi u infurzar effettiv jsiru verament sikuri għall-użu tal-pedestrians u ta’ mezzi alternattivi u nodfa ta’ transport. Interventi oħra li ilna nitolbu huwa programm estensiv ta’ pedestrijanizazzjoni fil-pjazzez tal-irħula u l-ibliet tagħna. It-toroq għandhom jingħataw lura lin-nies, mhux invażati karozzi u tniġġis.”

“Il-proposti nofs kedda tal-Ministru għat-Trasport, li ma jrid jurta lil ħadd, ma wasslu u m’huma se jwasslu mkien”, temm jgħid Cassar

***

The need for greater safety on our roads

There is practically daily news of car accidents, some of which are so serious that they end in a fatality.  There are many reasons why these accidents happen, and they need to be addressed without further delay.  Furthermore, we cannot forget that a car can be a lethal weapon when used carelessly or under the influence of substances. ADPD-The Green Party spokespersons Brian Decelis and Ralph Cassar addressed a press conference about the issue next to Transport Malta offices in Ħal Lija today.  

ADPD-The Green Party PRO Brian Decelis said:”It is patently obvious that one of the most common reasons for car accidents and deaths is overspeeding. There are driving regulations for this and must be obeyed. Consequences for speeding and negligent driving must be severe and above all enforcement should be strengthened.  There is the need for more police on the roads, especially in arterial roads notorious for road racing. Speed limits are there for a purpose and the fines need to be quite severe, and licence suspension for those who violate these speed limits should become the norm.  Driving a car is not a right but a privilege, and if this privilege is abused, there should be severe consequences. If caught driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances and overspeeding, the licence to drive should be suspended immediately.  

The fact that there is a large number of cars on the road certainly does not help the situation.  In the year 2025 we cannot expect changes in road infrastructure that costs us taxpayers millions to be exclusively built for car use.  We need infrastructure to cater for other means of transport such as bicycles and proper pavements for pedestrians.  There is the need to reduce the number of cars on the road so that residents are assured alternative, safer and efficient means of transport.  Efficient bus services with priority for buses on roads, including a Bus Rapid Transit system, and the use of sea transport are alternative means of transport by which we can continue reducing the dependence on car usage.  With some thought and discussion with different stakeholders, we can have safer roads in addition to less traffic.” 

ADPD-The Green Party Secretary General Dr Ralph Cassar said:”The reality is that the government is doing the exact opposite of what is happening in many cities and localities in Europe. ADPD-The Green Party’s position on the situation is clear: public spaces should not be reserved for cars, and more and more space should be set aside for cleaner means of transport. This would create more open spaces and create a healthier environment.  We want safer roads, a clampdown on dangerous driving and stricter measures that include permanent suspension of driving licences because of dangerous driving, speeding and negligence.  Irrespective of the means of transport used by the individual, responsibility must be taken by whoever carelessly makes use of it.”

Cassar also brought to attention proposals that ADPD-The Green Party has been making for years on end. As the beginning of the journey towards sustainable mobility in central areas of the country, ADPD-The Green Party proposes proper safe lanes for bicycles, e-scooters, and pedelecs, linking localities close to Valletta.  These include the linking of localities close to the University of Malta, the Higher Secondary, and MCAST. Neighbouring areas such as Marsaskala, Ħaż-Żabbar, Marsaxlokk and Birżebbuġa should also be connected through safe sustainable mobility routes. 

Besides having main roads with dedicated bike lanes, it is important that other roads are also given attention, redesigning them, providing low maximum speeds and effective enforcement for the safety of pedestrians and prioritising cleaner alternative means of transport.  Other interventions that we have been asking for are extensive pedestrianisation of the town and village squares.  Our roads should be given back to the people, not taken over by cars and pollution.”

“Transport Minister Bonett’s half-baked proposals are designed to avoid rocking the boat. These have not and will not yield any results or culture change”, concluded Cassar.