Parliament's approval of legislation allowing random roadside testing for alcohol and drugs is certainly a long awaited step in the right direction. For years, calls have been made for stronger measures to tackle impaired driving, especially as we have seen a seemingly climbing trend of careless driving that in some cases have lead to tragedy.

I welcome Parliament's unanimous vote sending a strong message that driving under the influence will be treated as a very serious crime indeed, marking a significant shift in how road safety is approached.

When I reflect on the useless loss of lives in the past months and years, I wonder how many of them we could have saved. I reflect on the young drivers, passengers, and innocent bystanders whose lives were cut short by the irreversible consequences of ill-judgement.

However, while legislation represents a strong message, it will sadly never be enough to solve the problem at hand. For long, Malta has had a complex relationship with alcohol and substance abuse, something which organisations such as Caritas can attest to. Alcoholic consumption forms a central part of our social lives, and in recent years, sadly, there has been a rise in substance abuse permeating even the most innocent of events and everyday life.

An educationally-powered culture shift is what we need.

If this reform is to achieve its purpose, it must be accompanied by a sustained public information campaign that sensitises the public about the dangers of driving under the influence. Furthermore, it must start from a young age, telling young teens, well before they sit behind a wheel for the first time, about the responsibility driving a vehicle brings with it. Every driver must feel the burden of responsibility which we can no longer take willy nilly.

Young drivers in particular must understand that driving under the influence is not just illegal but morally unacceptable because of the harm it can cause. Schools, social groups and public campaigns all have a role to play in reinforcing this message.

Equally important is visible and fair enforcement. Random roadside testing will only make a real difference if it is applied consistently. If motorists perceive that the law exists only on paper or that testing happens sporadically, the deterrent effect will quickly fade.

In other European countries, no one entertains the mere thought of driving under the influence because they know that the consequences of getting caught are so extreme that it makes it simply not worth the while. We must reach this level of awareness and safety prioritisation. 

Ultimately, the real success of this reform will not be measured by the number of fines issued or the number of people arrested at roadside checks, but by the number of lives we save!

For that to happen, legislation must work hand in hand with enforcement, education and a broader cultural shift in how we view responsibility behind the wheel.

Alexander Mangion is the Deputy Mayor of Attard.