Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/773562
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2017 4 News TIM DIACONO A range of proposed punitive measures to combat drink driving could pave the way for cheaper taxi fares and an extended night bus service. The Bill, launched by justice min- ister Owen Bonnici this week, aims to slash the national alcohol limit for drivers from 0.8g to 0.5g per litre of blood, introduce harsher fines for drink drivers, extend the penalty points system to all driv- ers, and to grant local wardens the power to administer breathalyzer tests. If the plan works, it could ulti- mately serve as a boon to taxi com- panies and to Malta Public Trans- port, who will stand to gain from an increased demand in alternative forms of transport. Indeed, MPT's general manager, Konrad Pule hailed the proposals as a step in the right direction to improve road safety and an oppor- tunity for more people to use night buses. "Usage of public transport con- tinues to increase year on year, and this is definitely an opportunity for more people to use night services," he told MaltaToday. "In fact, one of our plans for this year is to ex- tend the night services. We are currently considering the routes and usage, with the aim of extend- ing these services later this year." Matthew Bezzina, director of the popular taxi company ECabs, is also looking ahead towards a higher demand for taxis that could prompt a further reduction in fares. Indeed, he argued that fares are relatively costly – €20 for an aver- age journey – because the compa- ny incurs a lot of dead mileage, the period when taxi drivers are driv- ing without a passenger, and idle time, the period when drivers are waiting for a client to call. "People tend to see taxis as ex- pensive because they only con- sider that they have to pay €15 for a 15-minute ride, but then don't take account of the time it would have taken the driver to reach the passenger in the first place. "The law will lead to a net in- crease in our business, which would increase our passenger vol- ume and reduce both idle time and dead mileage. Essentially, we will be able to reduce our fares by ap- plying economies of scale." However, he urged the govern- ment to couple this new law with incentives to encourage more peo- ple to seek careers in the transport industry, such as through the es- tablishment of a transport acad- emy. "The transport industry still suf- fers from stigmatization, it isn't the most glamorous of jobs and the working hours are not always attractive," he admitted. "Take New Year's Eve… the demand was high and we struggled to meet it because we couldn't find enough drivers who were willing to sac- rifice their night. It also tends to be hard finding drivers willing to work on weekend nights, which of course is also when the demand is greatest." 'Culture change must start from somewhere' When launching the drink driv- ing Bill this week, justice minister Owen Bonnici was crystal clear on his intentions. "Our culture must change. Too many people go to weddings, drink a lot and then drive their families home, which worries us greatly," he said. However, the head of the small business chamber GRTU's leisure section has warned that the up- shot of the law is that the costs of a night out will increase "If a simple dinner date consist- ing of a pizza and a bottle of wine costs €40, the cost of a night out will effectively double if you also factor in a taxi ride to and from the location," Philip Fenech said. "This isn't a criticism of the law itself, but an observation in that it will have an effect on the number of times people go out. A couple who used to go out to eat twice a week might now only be able to go out once a week." Pierre Vella, executive manager of the Malta Road Safety Council, dismissed Fenech's comments as proof that businesses are profiting from the consumption of alcohol. "In some countries, it's perfectly normal for people attending a conference to organise transport beforehand because they would know that wine would be served afterwards," he told MaltaToday. "Foreigners I spoke to at the end of a recent conference in Malta were shocked at how many peo- ple drove off after drinking. It's all about a culture change – it will be difficult because it's in the Maltese culture to drink at every possible occasion, but we must start from somewhere." The National Youth Council is also set to launch a road safety campaign aimed at discouraging young people from drink driving. "It won't be easy to change the culture and convince more drivers to use alternative means of trans- port, but there must be some sort of push forward in this regard or we'll never progress," KNZ presi- dent Michael Piccinino told Mal- taToday. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Harsh drink-driving laws could mean cheaper taxis, more night buses The proposed law will slash the national alcohol limit for drivers and increase fines for drink drivers eCabs boss says higher demand will lead to cheaper taxi fares, Malta Public Transport planning extended night bus service 2017 MALTESE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROVISION OF RESTAURANT SERVICES IN THE ISLAND OF GOZO The 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union notifies that an expression of interest has benn issued for the provision of restaurant services in the island of Gozo for delegates attending meetings in Gozo during the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU. This expression of Interest can be obtained via email from Operations Manager Ms. Lucia Gauci on lucia.gauci@gov.mt. 'Our culture must change. Too many people go to weddings, drink a lot and then drive their families home'