Harsh drink-driving laws could mean cheaper taxis, more night buses

A range of proposed punitive measures to combat drink driving could pave the way for cheaper taxi fares and an extended night bus service.

The Bill, launched by justice minister Owen Bonnici this week, aims to slash the national alcohol limit for drivers from 0.8g to 0.5g per litre of blood, introduce harsher fines for drink drivers, extend the penalty points system to all drivers, and to grant local wardens the power to administer breathalyzer tests.

If the plan works, it could ultimately serve as a boon to taxi companies and to Malta Public Transport, who will stand to gain from an increased demand in alternative forms of transport.

Indeed, MPT’s general manager, Konrad Pule hailed the proposals as a step in the right direction to improve road safety and an opportunity for more people to use night buses.

“Usage of public transport continues to increase year on year, and this is definitely an opportunity for more people to use night services,” he told MaltaToday. “In fact, one of our plans for this year is to extend the night services. We are currently considering the routes and usage, with the aim of extending these services later this year.”

Matthew Bezzina, director of the popular taxi company ECabs, is also looking ahead towards a higher demand for taxis that could prompt a further reduction in fares. 

Indeed, he argued that fares are relatively costly – €13 for an average journey and €15 for a 25 minute ride– because the company incurs a lot of dead mileage, the period when taxi drivers are driving without a passenger, and idle time, the period when drivers are waiting for a client to call.

“People tend to see taxis as expensive because they only consider that they have to pay €15 for a 25-minute ride, but then don’t take account of the time it would have taken the driver to reach the passenger in the first place.

“The law will lead to a net increase in our business, which would increase our passenger volume and reduce both idle time and dead mileage. Essentially, we will be able to reduce our fares by applying economies of scale.”

However, he urged the government to couple this new law with incentives to encourage more people to seek careers in the transport industry, such as through the establishment of a transport academy.

“The transport industry still suffers from stigmatization, it isn’t the most glamorous of jobs and the working hours are not always attractive,” he admitted. “Take New Year’s Eve… the demand was high and we struggled to meet it because we couldn’t find enough drivers who were willing to sacrifice their night. It also tends to be hard finding drivers willing to work on weekend nights, which of course is also when the demand is greatest.” 

‘Culture change must start from somewhere’

When launching the drink driving Bill this week, justice minister Owen Bonnici was crystal clear on his intentions.

“Our culture must change. Too many people go to weddings, drink a lot and then drive their families home, which worries us greatly,” he said. 

However, the head of the small business chamber GRTU’s leisure section has warned that the upshot of the law is that the costs of a night out will increase

“If a simple dinner date consisting of a pizza and a bottle of wine costs €40, the cost of a night out will effectively double if you also factor in a taxi ride to and from the location,” Philip Fenech said. “This isn’t a criticism of the law itself, but an observation in that it will have an effect on the number of times people go out. A couple who used to go out to eat twice a week might now only be able to go out once a week.”

Pierre Vella, executive manager of the Malta Road Safety Council, dismissed Fenech’s comments as proof that businesses are profiting from the consumption of alcohol. 

“In some countries, it’s perfectly normal for people attending a conference to organise transport beforehand because they would know that wine would be served afterwards,” he told MaltaToday. “Foreigners I spoke to at the end of a recent conference in Malta were shocked at how many people drove off after drinking. It’s all about a culture change – it will be difficult because it’s in the Maltese culture to drink at every possible occasion, but we must start from somewhere.” 

The National Youth Council is also set to launch a road safety campaign aimed at discouraging young people from drink driving. 

“It won’t be easy to change the culture and convince more drivers to use alternative means of transport, but there must be some sort of push forward in this regard or we’ll never progress,” KNZ president Michael Piccinino told MaltaToday.