While the Maltese are the EU’s fifth-highest users of motorised transport, the majority do not hold with the concept of drivers paying for congestion and environmental damage through the introduction of road tolls, according to the results of a Eurobarometer survey published yesterday.
The figures show that 66 per cent of Maltese use motorised vehicles as their main means of transportation. Another 24 per cent use public transport for getting around, while just eight per cent regularly use non-motorised transport such as walking and cycling.
Asked if road users should pay for congestion and environmental damage through road tolls, 55 per cent of Maltese dismissed the idea, while another 38 per cent agreed. Fifty-five per cent felt any such revenue collected should go towards improvements to road-related infrastructure, 20 per cent suggested putting the money towards general public expenditure and 15 per cent felt it should be invested in better public transport.
On the issue of the best way to reduce CO² emissions from road transport, 40 per cent of Maltese advocated allowing the sale of only less polluting vehicles, 28 per cent believed the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles should be promoted through tax incentives, while just eight per cent, the second lowest average in the EU, felt restrictions on the use of cars should be introduced to combat pollution.
Twenty-nine per cent of Maltese were, however, not willing to pay more to use less polluting transport, the third lowest percentage in the EU, 56 per cent would pay up to 10 per cent more to use more eco-friendly transport, while 4.7 per cent said they would pay over 10 per cent more.
Maltese also recognised that the type of car people drive, and the way in which they drive them, has an impact on both the traffic and the environment in their areas at percentages of 80.1 and 79.9 respectively.
Forty-four per cent of Maltese believed better public transport could help improve traffic congestion, 20.7 per cent felt the answer was imposing more speed restrictions and 19.3 per cent felt limitations in town centres – such as for parking and access for private cars and trucks – would help with congestion.
Asked what aspects of public transport should be improved to encourage a better take up, 46 per cent of Maltese cited the need for better scheduling in terms of regularity and operating hours, 16 per cent suggested better connections to their regular destinations, while 10.2 per cent cited better security of public transport and eight per cent thought bus stops in closer proximity to where individuals lived would encourage the use of more public transport.
However, 14.5 percent said no such improvements would persuade them to give up using their own cars.
Forty-one per cent of Maltese said they have walked or cycled more to save fuel over the past year, 36 per cent have changed their driving styles, 27 per cent have used public transport more and 19 per cent have traded in their old cars for more fuel efficient models.
Finally, 38 per cent believe tax incentives would encourage a higher take up of biofuels, while 14 per cent felt compulsory standards for manufacturers to produce cars that use biofuels would be a good idea.