PN wants parliamentary debate on Malta’s worsening traffic problem

Opposition says Labour promised national traffic management plan that is nowhere to be seen since coming to power in 2013

The Nationalist Party has filed a motion calling for a parliamentary debate on the ever increasing traffic problem, the lack of traffic management, and its impact on the country.

In the motion, presented by deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Mario de Marco, the PN also calls on the government to acknowledge the traffic problem and to implement a plan for traffic management.

The Opposition said the traffic problem was now the source of inconvenience for businesses, and was reducing competitiveness, increasing environment, social, health, logistical and mobility problems.

It cited a recent study by the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, that tagged the cost of traffic in 2020 at €89 million for accidents, €15.3 million in air pollution costs, €51 million in climate change costs, and €151 million in wasted time due to traffic jams.

It accused the government of having done nothing concrete in addressing the problem despite it having been one of Labour’s electoral promises in 2013.

“These included the commencement of a national traffic management plan, a coordination unit for roadworks, and greater efficiency in public transport… the situation has only gone from bad to worse,” De Marco said.

The Opposition also said the government had offered no holistic solution to the increasing number of cars on the road, and cited surveys by MaltaToday showing that traffic was the top concern for respondents between November 2-14 and September 2015.