Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/712521
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 AUGUST 2016 9 ANDREA ROSSITTO PROSPECTIVE drivers should be exposed to road safety and safe driving features before the age of 18, an NGO pushing for safety on Maltese roads believes. "It would be great if we could get into talks with the Ministry for Education to recommend a driving education course at sixth form lev- el," Justice to Ensure Safer Streets (J.E.S.S.) founder Toni Ann Muscat said. The NGO came into being after 22-year-old Jessica Tabone was tragically killed last year in a fatal car crash on Xlendi Road, Gozo. Tabone had been a passenger in a car that crashed head-on. The NGO, which aims to intro- duce further education among young adults on road awareness, proposed that more traffic offic- ers should visit schools and engage with students on how to stay safe on the road. "By liaising with the Malta Road Safety Council, the Malta Police Force, Transport Malta, and the respective ministers our mission is to kindle awareness to the public in this regard, so that no other fami- lies go through the tough and sad- dening times Jessica's family and mine had to go through." The Ministry for Transport is in agreement that creating responsi- ble drivers starts from behind the class benches. "Road safety should be part of the students' curriculum, well before the years they obtain their driving licence," the ministry said. Maltese roads have witnessed multiple road accidents this year, many of which turned tragic. Figures provided by the National Statistics Office are grim: Malta's roads have seen 4,331 accidents, 11 of which proved to be fatal. 34 per- sons, 25 of whom were pedestrians, suffered grievous injuries. "With a soaring car population on an island where the road network cannot be extended, the expectan- cy of road accidents will definitely increase," the ministry pointed out. Concerned by the number of lives lost on the roads, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has pledged harsher action, calling on the Transport Ministry and relevant authorities to review traffic fines. The source of traffic accidents is not just populated roads but also reckless drivers who still defy the system – be it by driving under the influence or texting while driving. Negligent drivers create a danger- ous scenario, putting their own lives and that of others at risk. Currently, the lowest local fine for drink driving is at €1,200. Also, drivers who ignore red traffic lights or use their mobile phones while driving are fined €100, while those who drive on priority vehicle lanes are charged €50. In an attempt to address the ris- ing number of traffic casualties, the authorities have come together and the Malta Road Safety Coun- cil was set up, which includes well over 10 entities and authorities, including the disciplined forces, Mater Dei emergency services, the Malta Insurance Association and the National Blood Transfusion Service. A spokesperson for the transport ministry told MaltaToday that the council has successfully set up a living dialogue with direct entities that face road accidents. "The council believes in tackling the problems with the specific en- tity. Usually, it discusses and meets according to existing circumstanc- es primarily with associations of insurances, the Malta Police Force, and the CPD," the spokesperson said. Upon its inception, the council's priority was that of tackling one of the biggest causes of traffic ac- cidents: drink driving. The council introduced and distributed over 3,000 disposable breathalysers. "The road ahead is long, howev- er, our first campaign of disposable breathalysers propelled us into senior schools where we discussed the problems in relation to drink driving," the spokesperson said. The council has not just left an impact in schools, having staged numerous activities with children, but was also instrumental in set- ting up the 152cc bike permit. News Too many accidents: how safe are our roads? Despite the ample road improvements in the last few years, Malta – which to date is not part of any international road safety assessment initiative – maintained a relatively constant level in road fatalities Bail offender causes roads mayhem in bid to flee police A 37-year-old man banned from being outside late at night caused chaos on the roads in Birkirkara late on Friday night in an unsuc- cessful bid to escape police. Police officers were conducting road checks on the Birkirkara by- pass at around 1am when the man, who lives in St Paul's Bay, drove up in a Volkswagen Passat with foreign number plates. On noticing the police, he switched off his lights and parked at the side of the street. After a while, he reversed the entire length of the street and started driving towards the Birkirkara par- ish church. The police gave chase, upon which the driver accelerated, hitting several parked vehicles as he tried to lose his pursuers. The police eventually managed to catch up with the driver but he reversed into their car, upon which the officers shot at his car so as to stop him causing more chaos. Undeterred, the man drove on in the wrong direction of a one-way road but was eventually stopped and arrested by police from the Rapid Intervention Unit. On arrest, the man complained of pain caused by a recent opera- tion, and was sent to Mater Dei for treatment but was discharged shortly afterwards. Biker suffers grievous injuries in head-on crash A man from Zurrieq, who was in danger of dying after being in col- lision in Mellieha on Friday night, is now stable. The accident happened at around 10pm in Triq il-Marfa when Camen Camilleri's Yamaha bike and a Volkswagen crashed head-on. The vehicles were going in opposite directions. The car, driven by a 45-year-old woman from Mosta, was head- ing towards Mellieha whilst the 27-year-old biker was on his way towards the Gozo ferry. An ambulance was called on site which transferred the man to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified to be in danger of dying. However, Camilleri later took to Facebook to reassure friends that he was no longer in critical condi- tion. The woman driver did not suffer any injuries. A magisterial inquiry is underway. Camen Camilleri, 27, took to Facebook to reassure friends that he was no longer in danger of dying