Something happened on our roads this week. Something that should serve as a chilling wake-up call to recognise a state of emergency that needs to be acknowledged in the first place, and most importantly acted upon.
I am of course referring to the shocking number of fatalities that have taken place over a few days, leaving no less than five people dead, families distraught, and a nation grappling to understand how we got here.
From the outset I wish to express my heartfelt solidarity with the Prime Minister and his family as his parents, President Emeritus Dr George Abela and Mrs Abela, were involved in a very serious traffic accident last Sunday.
The state of our roads has reached breakpoint. This is not a frivolous hunch, but a fact, which is grounded in statistics.
A quick look at road fatalities in the past three years, quickly shows that this year has been extraordinarily deadlier in terms of traffic accidents. In all of 2023, 16 people died on our roads. Throughout the 12 months of 2024, 12 people died from traffic accidents. This year, up till July, the death toll has already reached 16. That is already more deaths than last year, in the first seven months of the year. I dread to think what the end tally by December will be.
The saddest thing about all this is that each of these tragic incidents is reduced to a statistic. In the 90s, government used to run a rather powerful TV awareness campaign, urging people to be more careful on the roads with the tagline 'Issirx numru' (Don't become a number). The campaign used to shed light on the fact that there is more to life that ought to be appreciated, than becoming a statistic for historians, a footnote in someone's research.
Because behind each of these fatalities is a person, a family, a career, a profession, interests in their village festa, perhaps an untirable philanthropist, an accomplished sports person, a family man or woman, sons, daughters, nephews and nieces.
All gone, poof! In a second of miscalculated bravado, driving under the influence or outright irresponsible behaviour.
My heart goes out to the families each of these people leave behind. They have a name and surname, dreams and experiences which were torn from their loved ones, all too soon.
But thoughts and prayers do not cut it any longer. We are in politics to make a difference. It is what our constituents and what every citizen in Malta expects from us.
In a statement the Insurance Brokers Association said that only three per cent of people involved in serious traffic accidents are administered a breathalyser test. We can all agree that this is a worryingly low percentage, which needs to grow.
From information presented in Parliament, we also know that the Police Corps has 18 breathalyser kits while LESA has another five. In 2024, 173 tests were carried out, with 93 resulting positive. This year, in the first seven months only, 101 were administered finding 63 persons over the legal alcohol limit.
If this isn't a clear sign of an emergency, I don't know what is.
It is also important to note that breathalyser kits only detect alcohol in the system. They are futile in terms of measuring other illegal substances such as cocaine, which consumption, as we all know, has increased eye-wateringly. The misguided legalisation of cannabis certainly didn't help the complexive situation.
While I appreciate that no government can ever guarantee a 100 per cent road safety, more needs to be done. Government needs to provide more, and better tools to our Police force, if it wants to take its head out of the sand, and address the emergency on our roads, which are quickly turning into a cemetery.
We need more and better enforcement to correct, educate and prevent fatal accidents. Harsher fines for those who are a hazard to others. We need to learn respect on the road all over again. The crazy pace at which we are living our lives doesn't help, yet it is no excuse.
In 2014, government had launched an ambitious project to reduce fatalities on our roads by 50%, among other goals. 11 years on, it is evident that the strategy missed all of its targets, as arguably, government lost control of the situation all together.
This unacceptable state of affairs is costing us precious lives. We must act now!
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On a personal note, I wish to thank the officials from Civil Protection Malta, and the Malta Police Force, who assisted my father earlier this week when his car caught fire while driving. Thankfully he walked away unharmed, albeit under shock. Your selfless dedication makes us all proud.
Dr Darren Carabott is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Reforms, and President of the Public Accounts Committee