Close to 35,000 speeding offences, 12,000 mobile-phone violations, and 120 drink-driving cases were recorded in the first 10 months of this year surpassing last year's total, according to data released by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri.

"Irresponsible behaviour will be met with harsh penalties," Camilleri said while addressing a conference organised by the Insurance Association Malta , announcing that Parliament will in the coming days take a third-reading vote on Bill 146, which introduces random roadside drug and alcohol testing.

Dangerous driving remains a serious problem on Malta's roads and with new legislation coming into force the Insurance Association Malta brought together authorities, policymakers and stakeholders at a half-day conference themed Substance Abuse: The Power of Policy to Drive Change and Save Lives.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa, who addressed the conference held at Xara Lodge, said speeding remained a major concern and cautioned against pinning substance abuse as the sole contributor to road accidents.

Gafa said police had conducted breathalyser tests at every serious collision this year, which saw the number of tests quintuple to 613 between January and October 20, compared to 95 last year. So far this year, 120 drivers tested positive for driving under the influence, compared to 90 in 2024.

An increase in population and a tripling of registered motorcyclists has also led to a steep increase in fatalities and injuries per capita suffered by motorcyclists, the Police Commissioner said, urging an evidence-based approach to road safety.

Opening the conference, IAM president Catherine Calleja called on decision-makers to identify practical solutions and commit to policy change that will make a meaningful difference towards safer roads, seas and workplaces.

"Our industry sees the consequences of substance abuse in very real terms: in claims, lots of life, long-term disability, and in the emotional and financial toll on families and businesses," Calleja said.

The growing toll was echoed by  Michael Spiteri, consultant at Mater Dei Hospital's Emergency Department, who reported that the number of ambulances and specialised teams dispatched for serious incidents - from car accidents, to shootings, and violent patients - had shot up to 530 this year, compared to 417 last year.

He said no incident was the cause of one single factor, and suggested that technology preventing human error behind the wheel would be key to reducing risk.

The challenges of random roadside drug testing, as opposed to the clearer standards for drink-driving, were also discussed, and Prof. Denis Cusack, a coroner and director of Ireland's Medical Bureau of Road Safety, said drug testing had to go hand-in-hand with impairment assessment.

Cusack cautioned that drivers who consumed readily available drugs containing codeine - such as Solpadeine, Migraleve, Feminex, Uniflu Plus, and Night Nurse - would test positive in a roadside drug test.

"This is why impairment testing is a critical part of police enforcement... Our primary goal is to make roads safe, to stop deaths, and stop injuries. We must strike a balance between zero tolerance and personal freedoms; a difficult task but one we share together," he said.

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the need for greater legal clarity, a point underscored by Madame Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera.

"There are a number of laws that need to be addressed as their ambiguity leads to conflicting judgments. Clarity ensures fairness and justice, prevents misuse of power, supports the rule of law, and reduces confusion and disputes," she said.

Speakers at the conference, moderated by road safety advisor Pierre Vella, agreed that alongside legal reform, education, training, and evidence-based measures were key to transforming awareness into real behavioural change.

Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci reminded those present that every crash making the headlines represents a preventable loss

"We have the evidence, the tools and the power to act. Let's move from outrage to prevention, from reaction to collaboration," Prof. Gauci urged.