Transport Malta has carried out a total of 912 inspections on public buses in the past year, from March 2023 to April 2024, information tabled in Parliament showed.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett was replying to a parliamentary question made by PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut, who asked about the number of inspections Transport Malta carried out on public buses, passenger minibuses, as well as coaches, from March 2023 till today.

Bonett said that since March 2023, up until April of this year, there have been a total of 912 inspections on buses. There were also 91 inspections carried out on coaches, and 96 inspections carried out on minibuses.

12 buses were already inspected during the month of April 2024. The highest number of inspections over the past year were conducted in December 2023, with 175 total inspections on buses.

On Tuesday morning, a judicial protest was filed against Malta Public Transport by an employee, who had accused his employer of ignoring his concerns and attempting to force him to certify and allow dangerous and unroadworthy buses to continue in circulation, some with brake pads so worn that their effectiveness was at less than 30%.

Despite categorically denying any allegations with regard to the safety of the bus fleet, Malta Public Transport was yesterday ordered by Transport Malta to remove from service all buses mentioned in the judicial protest pending the necessary checks.