The police are rarely short of headlines in Malta, and, sadly, they are sometimes in the wrong ones. Delayed responses, unanswered reports and a growing perception that law-breakers operate with impunity have left many citizens frustrated and cynical.
Most illegalities are happening right in front of our eyes: from parking to reckless speeding that turns roads into racetracks. It is no wonder many believe that rules exist only on paper.
That is why, over the past week, two police press releases landed differently and many applauded the police.
A 21-year-old motorist led the police on a chase at speeds exceeding 160km/h (imagine that!) before being stopped in Siġġiewi. The driver’s car was seized and charges issued.
In Ta’ Qali, officers responding to reports of reckless driving caught multiple motorists drifting vehicles in a public car park, endangering bystanders. More drivers were stopped in Attard and Mosta, some overtaking on the wrong side of the road, others ignoring traffic signs entirely.
Of course, there is a predictable response to the applause that followed: the police should not be praised for doing their job. Law enforcement should be consistent, visible and reliable enough that it does not require public commendation.
But Malta does not operate in that ideal system but in a reality where bad and dangerous behaviour on the roads is routinely tolerated and enforcement feels sporadic.
Malta has long struggled with a culture that prioritises vote-catching over rule-enforcing. Governments and authorities often shy away from measures that might inconvenience drivers. Though we do have a Highway Code and speed cameras have gone a long way to curbing abuse, we continue seeing speeding, illegal parking and aggressive driving frequently excused as minor infractions.
Yet, voters are not only drivers.
They are pedestrians navigating blocked pavements, cyclists fearing for their lives, parents worried about children crossing roads and commuters exhausted by daily risk. Allowing law-breakers to get away with it adds to voters’ frustrations.
A sustained clampdown on dangerous driving would not only reduce accidents but restore trust: that roads may be shared and that walking or cycling are not a potential death wish.
Only through visible action can the authorities force a change in behaviour. It’s the stick, not just the carrot approach – again.
Drivers should be actively encouraged to share dash-cam footage of dangerous or illegal driving with the police. In an age where cameras are already present in thousands of vehicles, ignoring this resource makes little sense. Coupled with clear procedures and swift follow-up, it could dramatically increase accountability.
At the same time, Malta urgently needs a renewed commitment to road education. A basic re-education in the Highway Code (not just for learner drivers) in the media would help refresh laws about speed limits, right of way and shared responsibility.
There is also a larger question that cannot be avoided. The number of high-powered cars on Maltese roads is disproportionate for a country of this size. When such vehicles end up in the hands of young, inexperienced drivers, the risk multiplies. It is about time to impose heavier taxation on excessively powerful cars, particularly for inexperienced drivers.
Other countries have taken a firmer stance. In Germany, for instance, street racing has been a criminal offence since 2017, carrying severe penalties including licence suspension and vehicle confiscation. Malta does not need to reinvent the wheel; it simply needs the political will to apply it.
We can only hope to read more statements from the police showing the way they clamped down on the show-offs and the boy racers putting lives at risk.
