The PN said that Malta has topped the European rankings for traffic congestion and placed second worldwide, insisting that “building new roads solves nothing,” and urging a national discussion on long-term transport reform.
PN MP Toni Bezzina said Friday that according to a newly published report by the TomTom Traffic Index, Malta recorded a congestion level of over 45% last year.
He said that India stands at 37%, while the Philippines registered a slightly lower level than Malta. The only country ranking worse than Malta is Colombia, he said.
Bezzina said that Malta is also the only European country included among the 10 most traffic-congested countries in the world.
He said that the other countries on the list are not European, and within Europe, the second most congested countries are Greece and Ireland, both at 31% - significantly lower than Malta.
“The index indicates that, on average in 2025, a journey in Malta took one and a half times longer than it would have without traffic. Maltese citizens are estimated to have spent 94 hours - or four days - extra in traffic last year. This represents an increase of four hours compared to the 90 hours lost in traffic in 2024,” Bezzina said.
Reacting to the report, the PN said that Malta should aspire to rank first in terms of quality of life, not traffic.
“For years, the PN has been saying that solutions different from those of the Labour government are needed. It is clear that no matter how many new roads are built, traffic continues to worsen rather than ease,” he said.
Bezzina said that PN Leader Alex Borg has been pushing for “a serious discussion between the two parties to reach agreement on an efficient mass transport system that could significantly alleviate the traffic problem.”
The PN argued that traffic congestion is having serious effects on people’s mental health and their lives, citing studies carried out in recent years, including one by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta in 2023.
It also referred to research published by government as part of the National Transport Master Plan, which shows that traffic congestion in 2025 cost Malta €770 million.
The PN said on that the same research projects, if drastic action is not taken, this cost will rise to €917 million by 2030.
“A solution to traffic means more time for Maltese and Gozitans with their loved ones, less stress, less anxiety, fewer mental and respiratory illnesses, and an overall better quality of life,” Bezzina said.
Bezzina said that the time has come for government to stop burying its head in the sand and admit that its solutions have solved nothing.
“We must roll up our sleeves and, from today, work towards a better Malta for tomorrow. If we change nothing, nothing will change,” Bezzina said.