In recent days, Malta has once again witnessed a disturbing wave of serious traffic accidents. Nowadays, these are no longer isolated events, but rather part of a recurring and deadly pattern rooted in a transport system that consistently prioritises private vehicles over the safety, health and wellbeing of the people. These are not mere “accidents” but avoidable tragedies, enabled by policy decisions and planning failures that place cars over human life.
Friends of the Earth Malta is deeply concerned by the persistent failure of Malta’s road and traffic system. Despite years of calls from civil society, and mounting evidence in academic research and national statistics, the country remains trapped in a model of mobility designed around speed and convenience for car drivers. Infrastructure continues to favour fast, uninterrupted vehicle flow, while those walking, cycling, or using public transport are often overlooked, if considered at all.
Together with other NGOs, FoEM has long highlighted the dangers and unsustainability of this unchecked car-centric approach. Yet successive governments have repeatedly chosen to pour public funds into more road-building, while neglecting the very basics of public transport, pedestrian, and cycling infrastructure. The financial burden is enormous, but the human cost, measured in lives lost and communities fractured, is far greater. The recently announced Smart City Road is just the latest example of a shortsighted, visionless planning approach that trades public space and quality of life for more asphalt and vehicle access.
When enforcement is weak, public transport remains unreliable, and pavements are cracked or missing altogether, people are pushed into cars not by choice, but by necessity. Instead of addressing car dependency at its root, our government is investing heavily in the electrification of private vehicles. While subsidies on electric vehicles help in the reduction of emissions, they do nothing to resolve the core issue. An electric car still takes up space, causes traffic, requires parking, and locks people into car ownership. These are distractions from the changes we actually need.
To prevent further harm, Malta must fundamentally shift towards a transport vision that places people first. This means ensuring the safety and dignity of those walking and cycling, creating streets that encourage community over congestion, and making public and active transport the easiest and most accessible option for all.
Until we redesign our roads and our thinking, road violence will remain a tragic and daily feature of life in Malta. FoEM urges those in power to recognise this moment for what it is: not a string of isolated accidents, but a wake-up call.