Labour’s record on education has never been very rosy. People of my generation and even younger remember the disruptions in our educational system that we had to endure under a Labour government. A few years ago, Labour was proposing that our children repeat their first year of schooling. It was a ludicrous idea. Now, a Labour government is proposing that school children start their day an hour earlier to alleviate the disastrous traffic situation on the island. But why should our children suffer because of the incompetance of the government? This is the question that many parents and grandparents are asking a few days before the start of another scholastic year. In recent years traffic has been a problem in Malta. Many used to associate traffic jams with the rush hours and with schools. During school holidays many drivers could afford to leave home a bit later and still make it in time for work. Not anymore. This summer has proved to be a record one in terms of traffic jams. Hence, while there is still some correlation between school hours and traffic, the government cannot conclude that traffic is the result of school hours. Would it be fair for students to bear the brunt of a failed road map on traffic in Malta? And how would shifting traffic by one hour earlier help solve the problem?

I am not a traffic expert but I can conclude that traffic is the result of an incompetent government. This government promised to tackle traffic jams but so far its only solution has been this ill-thought out proposal on a white paper issued recently. Traffic is congesting not only our major roads but also our village cores and subsidiary roads. There are various reasons for the increase in traffic we are experienceing. Firstly, traffic has increased because the population has increased. We have many foreigners working in Malta who are also drivers, tourism is increasing and more people are driving cars. However, the main problem is that many have lost their trust in the public transport. This government kicked out the service provider, Arriva, and blamed traffic on the bendy buses. Two years down the line, without bendy buses on the roads, traffic is at its worst. In spite of the hefty subsidies given to the new service provider, the service is still not up to standard. Long queues on bus stops, interrupted services, buses that do not turn up and overloaded buses are not something that one would expect in a modern country especially when we consider the subsidies given to the provider and also the high prices the commuters have to pay. An efficient bus service would encourage people to use the buses more frequently.

The government needs also to encourage other modes of transport. We are an island but we rarely use the sea as a means of transport. Ferries plying the harbours need to be further encouraged. Water taxis can be subsidised so that a reliable service is provided between the Grand Harbour and other villages and towns. The government must motivate people to drive motor cycles and smaller cars, while discouraging the use of very big cars which in all honesty are not suitable for a small country like ours. Also, horses and donkeys on the roads need to be better regulated.

The Leader of the Opposition has already proposed that school transport should be free. This would encourage parents to send their children on organised transport and thus less cars would be on the road. Also, our students should be encouraged to go to school on bicycles. Of course, we need to lower risks for bicycles by educating further our drivers and enforcing existing laws. Why not subsidise the purchasing of bicycles?

Definitely we need better roads. New flyovers need to be built and we should do away with useless roundabouts which cause more traffic jams. In the early 1990s, the Nationalist government had embarked on an intensive and nation-wide project to build new roads to cater for the increasing traffic.  The nationalist government anticipated the growing needs of drivers in Malta and thanks to its foresight we were spared traffic problems for two decades. In sharp contrast, we are now witnessing total apathy from this government. So far this government has not yet started building a singlenew road. To add insult to injury, the Coast Road is taking ages to complete. Certain traffic lights and pelican lights need to be reviewed. Some cause unnecessary traffic jams. The bus lane (or is it a priority lane?) in Sliema and Gzira needs to be removed. It does not make sense at all to have a bus lane in a dual carriageway and it is also contributing to more traffic.

Traffic costs time and money, not only to drivers and their accompanying passengers, but also to employers. Traffic annoys tourists and infuriates locals. Traffic causes stress, anxiety and pollution.  It is impossible to calculate the total cost and implications of the hazards of traffic.  Our government boasts that it listens to the people.  But in reality this government has not only become deaf to the pleas of drivers, it has also become completely blind and insensitive. The traffic situation in Malta is fast reaching crisis point. Evidently Labour’s road map on traffic needs to be decongested quickly.

Graziella Schembri is President for the PN's Forum Opportunitajiet Indaqs, Gzira Councillor and General Election Candidate on 9th and 10th District.