Reform set to ensure wardens reach collision site within 30 minutes

Under the new local enforcement system being implemented, motorists will no longer have to wait for more than 30 minutes after reporting a collision, according to Stefan Buontempo, parliamentary secretary for local government.

Speaking at press conference at the Local Enforcement System Agency (LESA) headquarters, Buontempo launched the reform which he said was intended to make the current system more efficient.

“We are aware of the fact sometimes it takes the warden an hour or two to get to the site of a collision, and that sometimes they don’t even arrive at all. We have carried out this reform because we want to reduce the time it takes for wardens to respond,” he said.

He said that the number of wardens with specialised training on dealing with traffic collisions has increased from 12 to 15, and the number of vehicles available to this team has increased from four to five, with each region of Malta having its own collision response team. In addition to this, all wardens that are on the road will now be able to assist in dealing with a collision, until the specialised team arrives.

Buontempo said that in 2015, a total of 10,800 collisions were reported, with the number having already gone up to 10,182 this year.

LESA CEO Ray Zammit said that wardens will be able to assist by providing bumper to bumper forms, if motorists do not have these at hand, and in the case of some collision will be able to move the cars move the middle of the road.

Buontempo said that another part of the reform would be setting up a new number for motorists to call.

“I personally think the number is difficult to remember. We are working on having a freephone number that is three digits long,” he said.

Zammit explained that the reform is part of a series of reforms currently being undertaken. He said that over the next few months LESA will be launching a campaign on smoking in cars in the presence of children and he said that there is also a system of warning tickets in the pipeline intended as part of an educational campaign.