When we are conscious that we shouldn’t be driving, we shouldn’t be driving, Minister for Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela said on Monday.

In an adjournment speech in Parliament, although not falling under his ministry and without making reference to any case, the minister said that “we can blame the government, the Ministers, LESA” amongst other entities responsible for traffic management, however “we should also look at ourselves.”

Early on Sunday a teenaged woman died in a traffic accident on the Central Link road in Attard.

Kacey Sciberras of St Paul’s bay, aged 17, was riding as a passenger in a Chevrolet Aveo whose driver lost control and crashed into a wall and a pole at 3am in Tumas Chetcuti Street.

Abela said that he personally believes that accidents are not restricted to Malta only as “wherever there are cars, accidents are bound to happen”, however that “we should be more conscious that we are also responsible.”

The minister, who is a doctor by profession, said that he has cured and seen many people who have gotten out of accidents.

“Let’s try and avoid more heartbreak” he said, as he advised people not to drive under the influence or use their phones.

Just last Friday, revisited contraventions came into place, such as a €200 fine for motorists caught using their phone.

Following a record-breaking 26 traffic fatalities in 2022, the Transport Minister initially revealed the updated infractions in February as part of a larger initiative to increase road safety.

However, eight people have already died in traffic accidents this year – with four of those being just this month.