The police superintendent responsible for the newly set up Roads Policing Unit, Nicholas Vella, pinpointed speed, distractions, and a lack of seatbelt use as the most common causes of road accidents.

The new unit within the Malta's Police Force, formed last May, has been tasked with investigating serious or fatal traffic accidents using a specialised and centralised approach.

Vella, who last Wednesday was promoted to superintendent, spoke to The Malta Independent on Sunday on the establishment of the Unit and its functions.

Asked what led to the creation of the Roads Policing Unit and how it differs from previous police procedures in serious traffic accidents, Vella said the new unit is based on a two-tier approach.

"The police were noticing that there was a very long period when a serious accident occurred, especially when magisterial inquiries were involved, where roads were being closed for a long time," he said.

The first goal was to reduce that time. "We've taken the approach of reducing the amount of time that roads are closed, especially during magisterial inquiries or where there are grievous injuries," Vella said.

The second goal was in line with the police's broader vision to deliver a more professional service.

"With that, we thought that by creating a centralised unit with more expertise, the public would have a better service," he said.

Previously, he explained, traffic accidents were investigated by police from individual police districts.

"We have 12 districts; there are 12 different sergeants and four shifts. That is a lot of people trying to investigate a particular traffic accident," Vella said.

Although these officers received training in collision investigations, he said specialisation required a more focused team.

"To specialise further, it is easier to have fewer professionals who are focused solely on road accidents, making it more effective," he said.

Most of the officers in the unit have undergone accredited training both locally and abroad, and new equipment has been acquired to support their work.

Vella said that the Roads Policing Unit is comprised of 17 investigations officers, and 28 enforcement officers.

Responding to serious or fatal accidents

Describing how the unit responds to major traffic incidents, Vella said that every call comes in through the police's control room. If any person is injured or has unfortunately died, the unit accepts the call and gets feedback on what has happened.

If no injuries are reported, LESA will respond. However, if the case is more complex, the Roads Policing Unit can be called in to assist, he said.

When serious injuries or fatalities are reported, the unit is immediately dispatched. Vella said that as soon as the unit arrives on site, the first priority is safety.

"The unit secures the area so no other accidents occur and so our personnel can work in a safe environment," he said.

Vella said that officers are trained in first aid and bleed control and can offer assistance until medical professionals arrive.

After that, the investigation begins immediately, and officers take witness statements, review CCTV footage, and use specialised tools including professional cameras and drones to record evidence and get a better perspective of the crime scene - since the unit investigates injuries.

The unit is also equipped with 3D cameras to better capture vehicle damage, and one of its key investments is equipment that calculates and measures asphalt grip.

"When a brake mark is left, it does not clearly indicate the speed of the vehicle unless the friction of the asphalt is known," Vella explained.

Once the initial site investigation is complete and the road reopened safely, the unit continues its work at the office, looking at accident dynamics and re-interviewing witnesses or suspects.

"We may inform suspects that they might be arraigned in court. If we have the evidence, charges are filed, and the person involved must answer before the Court of Magistrates," Vella said.

Liability even in single-driver fatal crashes

Asked whether cases where there would be sole driver who has died would still go to court, Vella explained that the unit still investigates such cases thoroughly.

"Even if the driver passed away, it does not mean that there is no liability," he said. However, if the deceased was at fault, no further legal action is taken, Vella said.

So far this year, Malta has recorded nine road fatalities, some of which were extremely violent. Vella said the unit is monitoring trends.

"The most common factors reported in traffic accidents are speed, distraction, and the use of a seatbelt. Those are the three major reasons these accidents are occurring," he said.

Distractions often involve mobile phones or alcohol, and Vella said that these prevent drivers from giving the road their full attention.

He was asked how the unit assesses whether a fatal crash was due to human error, infrastructure issues, or other contributing factors like speeding or driving under the influence.

Vella said that most unit personnel already had hands-on experience with traffic accidents before specialising in the unit and have since refined their knowledge through training and tools.

"Nonetheless, they brushed and polished their knowledge and expertise in the matter," he said.

Impact of graphic images and victim support

In response to viral graphic photos from fatal crashes being shared online, Vella said that such images do not directly affect the investigation, but they affect victims and families.

"Nowadays, social media is so widespread it cannot be much controlled," he said. "But my opinion is that spreading graphic images of people in road accidents is not 'news'," Vella added.

He explained that one branch of the unit now focuses exclusively on supporting victims and families, a change from past practice.

"We noticed that selfishly, in the initial stages of an investigation, we took longer because we were also dealing with families. Now, we have investigators handling the case exclusively, and dedicated personnel who speak to the families," Vella said.

This improves empathy and service delivery, he added, as these officers are trained in victim communication.

As for public perception of road safety, Vella said dangerous driving has not increased based on police data, but is more widely reported due to social media and its accessibility.

"Dangerous driving was always, and is still happening, and it has been more publicised on social media," Vella said.

Asked if sharing graphic images online would constitute as cybercrime, Vella replied in the negative, with the only crime attributed to that would possibly be on grounds of data protection, and only if there is a complaint.

Justice and timely court proceedings

Asked about public concern regarding justice in fatal crash cases, Vella said the unit is committed to fast and thorough investigations.

"If we have the evidence, the idea is to arraign the perpetrator involved as soon as possible," he said.

"That would show that justice is being done, and is seen to be done, and the families would have closure," Vella said.

He continued that delays of four or five years to arraign someone were not fair, he added.

Then, it is within the Court's remit to follow the law and sentence the accused the appropriate punishment for the charges presented, Vella said.

Vella said that the unit has already encountered difficult cases, especially in its early days.

"Our first accidents were motorcycle accidents. These were very challenging, because they are not clear cases to investigate," he said.

Despite undergoing training, the unit continues to learn through experience, Vella added.

"The first unfortunate accidents have taught us quite a bit, especially when dealing with such cases," he said. "However, we are moving according to our plans," he said.

Vella said he believed the unit's path forward is the one it had initially planned.

He said that the unit expected to encounter such difficult situations, with the way forward being to learn through them.

Preventive work and collaboration with authorities

Vella was asked if the unit is also involved in preventive work - such as identifying dangerous roads, collaborating with other authorities on road safety measures, or engaging with the public.

He said that the police is not the authority responsible for road safety, however it does enforce traffic regulations and investigates traffic accidents.

"We do not go searching for dangerous spots, unless we encounter them. There is Transport Malta and Infrastructure Malta who monitor road safety, but if we encounter anything that we think might be dangerous on the road, we report that to the authorities," Vella said.

For example, he said the unit once notified authorities that a dirty mirror at a stop sign was creating a visibility hazard.

A 35-year-old motorcyclist was killed in an accident at the St Paul's Bay bypass last month, which prompted Transport Minister Chris Bonnet to announce an exercise to check whether the country's crash barriers can be made safer. Bonett was replying to a parliamentary question by PN MP Ivan Bartolo, who asked whether government was contemplating changing road crash barriers to establish whether they could be made safer especially for motorcyclists. The minister also said crash barriers currently being used are in line with security standards.

Asked about this, Vella declined to comment due to an ongoing investigation into this particular accident. However, he said that the unit does offer advice to relevant authorities about issues it flags.

Asked if he had a message for drivers in Malta, Vella said that firstly, the oldest safety device that has ever been invented in a vehicle is still the most valid - the seatbelt.

"It has to be worn by everyone in the vehicle, front and rear," Vella said.

He appealed to drivers to follow speed limits and avoid distractions.

On whether harsher penalties should be introduced, Vella said that is up to the courts.

"The police bring the case to court. The magistrate decides the case according to the law," he said.