Malta’s insurers urge swift action on Road Accident Bureau following tragic spike in fatalities

On Monday (today), the Insurance Association Malta expressed its frustration over major road collissions and highlights the urgent need for a road accident investigation bureau, which was already promised.

“Behind every road fatality there is a shattered family mourning the premature loss of loved ones,” the association said in a statement

Two weeks ago, Malta had three major fatalities in one single day, “marking a tragic moment for Malta’s roads [and] underscoring the critical need for respect between road users and adherence to traffic rules.”

The association shared its disappointment over the long-awaited Road Safety Bureau and how it encountered “yet another setback.”

Last year, the Government had announced that it would be setting up the bureau with the aim of coming into force by the end of December 2023. However, reports suggest this was stalled over the court’s concerns over sharing contents of magisterial inquiries in relation to accidents.

The associated reiterated that last week’s accidents are a reminder of the need for an accident investigation agency and regular enforcement against drink-driving, drug-driving, speeding, and mobile phone distractions.

“No one can deny that Malta urgently needs a road accident investigation bureau, like those in the aviation and maritime sectors. The bureau would be a crucial element of a comprehensive road safety strategy that has long been promised but remains largely unaddressed,” it continued.

In its concluding remarks, it commented that road safety can only happen when both authorities and road users work in unison towards the common goal.

“How many more accidents must occur before we see meaningful change?” the Insurance Association Malta concluded.