Doctors for Road Safety (D4RS) has today written to all Members of the Maltese Parliament about our deep concern concerned on the rapid worsening of safety on Maltese roads,

We highlighted what is becoming an epidemic of deaths and serious critical injuries associated with road crashes, resulting fatalities and disabilities coming at a great cost to individuals, families, health and other services, and the economy.

We noted that despite our Government’s commitment to Vision Zero, we are nowhere near the targets envisaged in the Malta Road Safety Strategy 2014-2024. Despite improvements in the infrasructure and road safety educational campaigns, it is evident that there are glaring gaps in enforcement and some of the laws which govern its execution.

After a recent series of road deaths were associated with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs, D4RS at this point is emphasizing the need to focus on DUI, which is one of the main root causes of road fatalities. We are thus urging our MPs to attend to the following points:

1. Sections of the law relating to driving under the influence of drugs need to be introduced. Although driving under the influence of drugs in Malta is illegal, there are no specific tests or limits prescribed in the current law.
2. The concept of alcohol or drug testing under the aegis of ‘reasonable suspicion’ is currently the modus operandi of enforcement officers when stopping drivers at road checks. It is estimated that 25% of all road deaths in the EU are alcohol related. Recent serious and fatal road crashes in Malta can attest to this. It is time that Malta introduces a Stop at random-Test at random approach for ALL drivers in the legislation. There is substantial evidence from international experience that random alcohol and drug testing tends to be more effective than testing only under reasonable suspicion.
3. It is important that whilst securing the legal rights of the alleged perpetrator in these offences, one should seek to ensure a balance of these rights with the rights of the victims and their families. Relevant laws should be robust and sensitive enough to
   equally protect the victims and their families in a fair justice system worthy of our society.

Finally, D4RS offered its expertise in the medical field to help guide the required legislation. Our detailed position papers on this subject may be found on this website.

We are confident that this plea will not fall on deaf ears. This common sense approach is now being urged by all sectors of our society, and our representatives should unite on this issue and produce a solid legal framework to protect the rights of the public to be able to make use of road transportation, in whatever manner, safely.