The government's manifesto promised that the improvement of Malta's air quality would be a top priority of the new administration. It highlighted the incidence of respiratory illnesses in Malta, which was one of the worst in the world. Among a number of other proposals, the manifesto promised regular monitoring of air quality and the introduction of a transport strategy which would encourage the use of more electric cars.

My thoughts turned to these manifesto promises as I was stuck a fortnight ago in a nose-to-tail traffic jam at half past seven in the morning stretching from the airport, which is close to where I live, all the way to St Julians and, for all I know, other traffic hot-spots throughout the island. Malta appeared to be at a standstill. 

Public, commercial and private transport are the major cause of air pollution and consequent respiratory illnesses in Malta. The pollutants generated by vehicles occur at street level and pose a major public health hazard. Major improvements in Malta's air quality will only be achieved if the government tackles the sources of the problem, which stem almost wholly from cars on our grid-locked roads. The crux of the problem in curbing air pollution lies in tackling Malta's ever-growing transport monster.

The actions it takes to do so will inevitably mean targeting the private and commercial motorist through, so far as possible, discouraging private car use and encouraging public transport or cleaner means of zero carbon emissions transport. But the quandary facing the government is two-fold: first, that any actions it takes to rein back private car use in Malta will be unpopular; and secondly, that the encouragement of sources of cleaner transport will require a major degree of fiscal investment to succeed. There can be no gain without some pain, entailing adjustments to the way Maltese conduct their lives.

There are broadly six areas where action needs urgently to be set in hand by the Minister for Transport. First, the action plan should include the vital need to make radical improvements to day-to-day traffic management through the introduction of an 'intelligent' traffic management system. It is understood that something called 'Modus,' is planned for 2014. But this system should subsequently also be backed up by the introduction of a comprehensive system of “average speed cameras” along all major north-south routes in Malta which would show whether drivers are conforming with speed limits laid down. Backed up by traffic fines for transgressors, this should lead to steadier traffic movement and hence better traffic management along major routes.

Comprehensive traffic management schemes should be devised at all traffic hot-spots. After conducting a comprehensive study of the implications, low emission zones in traffic hot-spot areas should be introduced which would limit access to those areas only to emission-compliant vehicles and by banning the passage of heavy goods vehicles from such areas.

Next, every effort must be made to reduce dependence on private cars by massively improving the quality and convenience of public transport. Arriva has been a disappointment, but this does not mean  that it is not better than what we had before, and that it cannot be improved. The government, through Arriva, should encourage greater use of public transport by all the fiscal, customer service and media means possible. The practicability of retaining bendy buses on Malta's roads and their effects on increased traffic congestion should be reviewed and, if necessary,  Arriva should be persuaded to replace bendy buses with double-decker buses.

The road network system should be 'rationalised' wherever practicable by giving the public transport system more sole priority routes on the roads. In parallel, looking to the future, a call for expressions of interest in other types of public transport, such as underground railways, trams or trolley buses should be issued to promote a greater mix in mass public transport systems.

Third, the shift to more fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles should be encouraged through further targeted tax measures that penalise high emission gas-guzzlers. The viability of electric cars should be demonstrated through development of a comprehensive infrastructure of charging points and encouraging greater volume use of such cars through a wider system of mechanical and sales support. Businesses should be actively encouraged to switch to more fuel-efficient electrical delivery vehicles through subsidies or tax concessions. The purchase of electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles, such as hybrid cars, should also be encouraged by providing generous fiscal incentives. A shift to autogas should be encouraged by providing fiscal subsidies for conversion.

Fourth, the air pollution created by old heavy goods vehicles should be specifically targeted by offering a scrappage scheme aimed at removing them from the roads within two years. Polluting heavy goods vehicles should be severely penalised for any offences in order to encourage owners to scrap them.  A generous scrappage scheme should also be introduced to remove all old cars from the road. Stricter VRT conditions should be imposed on older vehicles to encourage their scrappage. Owners of polluting heavy goods vehicles should be penalised by making adherence to strict air emissions targets a prior requirement before awarding them a government contract.

Fifth, car use in core village and town areas should be discouraged by giving Local Councils the financial incentive to pedestrianise them wherever feasible. Car parking meters in selected areas near to commercial and entertainment centres should be introduced to discourage car use in those areas. Bicycle lanes should be laid down wherever it is feasible and safe to do so. Bicycles, motor-cycles and electric motors for bicycles (pedelecs) should be exempt from VAT. The feasibility of imposing a car-sharing scheme for entry into Valletta should be examined as part of the on-going study into the CVA system. Greater use should be made of CVA systems in CVA zones where appropriate, while ensuring that any new CVA system for Valletta or elsewhere is profitable and is not riddled with exemptions from payment for the scheme.

The potential of water transport in the harbour areas should be exploited more fully by extending the current water taxi and ferry services to provide more pick-up points and more frequent and extended hours of service between the communities of Kalkara, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua, Marsa, Valletta, Pieta, Msida, Ta' Xbiex, Manoel Island, Gzira and Sliema. 

Finally, law enforcement – Malta's Achilles Heel – should be rigorously applied through a properly coordinated action plan by the Police, Transport Malta and the Warden Service. The SMS emissions reporting scheme for polluting vehicles should be re-launched, making it more effective and better known. A strict regime of random roadside emissions testing should be introduced. More speed cameras in known excessive speeding areas should be introduced.

Driving in Malta is fast becoming a curse. There are too many cars on the road. The pollution levels at traffic choke-points are unhealthy and intolerable. A comprehensive action plan made up, in the main, of relatively small steps to change the Maltese driver's mind-set, to punish those who are the major cause of the problem and to improve the health and quality of life of citizens, is now urgently over-due if Malta is not to seize up, choked in its own car fumes.