A bill that will introduce harsher penalties for traffic contraventions began being debated in parliament on Tuesday.

Aside from a new Transport Safety Investigations Commission which will be tasked with investigating fatal road accidents and an increase in traffic fines aimed at, amongst other things, decreasing mobile phone usage while driving, the bill aims to change the safety culture by instituting in the school curriculum a transport safety campaign, Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia has said. Farrugia said that these campaigns ought to take place all year round.

The law also introduces e-scooters in the traffic regulation law. This will make it easier for the authorities to enforce the law where these are concerned.

Among the new fines that were announced earlier this year, the fine for driving through a no entry sign rise from €46.59 to €75, speeding over 15 km/h over the speed limit will see the fine increase from €69.88 to €100 and fines regarding the use of a vehicle for a purpose other than licensed is set to increase drastically from €34.95 to €200.

Farrugia appealed to everyone to drive our country into a new era where we see less people using their own cars and instead using public transportation, e-scooters, and various other alternate means of transport.

During the debate, PL MP Edward Zammit Lewis had made a number of proposals

"I would like to thank Minister Farrugia's bill wherein he proposed several measures to improve the safety of our roads, including a Transport Safety Investigations Committee, amongst others."

"I would like to propose several other measures that could be implemented," Zammit Lewis said.

"In relation to the Transport Safety Investigations Committee, the Transport and Justice Ministers ought to consider an amendment in the law concerning fatal accidents or those that cause grievous bodily harm."  

"That part of the inquiry that provides specialist suggestions on how to improve particular roads susceptible to accidents with specific safety features, would force the Attorney General to publish the relevant portion of the inquiry or, at the very least, notify the incumbent Transport Minister in order to eventually implement the recommendation," said Zammit Lewis.

"Secondly, I appeal for there to be further coordination on roads where public maintenance works are being carried out. There should also be more notices for drivers, telling them which roads to take and which to avoid."

"Thirdly, as for y-plate tags, there needs to be a reduction in the amount of bureaucracy that bring about these number plates. But we should not forget that, as a tourist country, our drivers need to be able to accommodate both the local populace and foreign tourists."

"Fourthly, there needs to be a mentality shift and increased training for those who are enforcing traffic regulations. We cannot have a situation where some are penalized for minor infractions, while others are allowed to skirt the rules in the most flagrant manner. We need intelligent enforcement which calls for training ensuring fairness," said Zammit Lewis.

Lastly, as for heavy vehicles in relation to the construction industry, we need to see to it that trucks are in conformity with OHSA rules in a holistic manner.

PN MP Graziella Attard Previ spoke about the need to enforce regulations when it comes to e-scooter infringements.

"E-scooters are affecting all of Malta, but in particular the Sliema, St Julian's, and Gzira areas," she said.

"Despite the utility of these alternate means of transport as a way of circumventing the enormous traffic problems in the country, we cannot ignore the various incidents that have been reported in the news." 

"We shouldn't ban their use but it's clear that we need to impose regulations to protect both pedestrians and the users of the scooters," Attard Previ said. 

"The question I have is this: who will ensure the effective enforcement in relation to e-scooter infringements and how will they manage this?"
Attard Previ said that the e-scooters are being used in ways that imperil both their users and pedestrians, as users have no awareness of traffic regulations. 

"They're doing what they want," she said. "If you try to bring attention to this fact, they either tell you to mind your own business or they gesticulate in an offensive manner."

Attard Previ made an appeal to listen to those individuals who are asking "Why can't we enjoy a simple walk along the coast anymore because of these e-scooters?"