Malta Insurance Association ‘concerned’ about risk of uninsured foreign registered vehicles

The Malta Insurance Association says it is “concerned” about risk uninsured foreign registered vehicles and that the cost of insurance claims will ultimately be borne by all motorists as it is incorporated in the premium they pay, in reply to an article published by The Malta Independent on Sunday last week.

Last week this newspaper reported that as foreign-registered, uninsured vehicles continue to stream into the country – vehicles that at one point or another could very well be involved in traffic accidents – it is Maltese motorists who may eventually end up paying the price for such vehicles’ unregulated entry into the country.

The phenomenon has been going on for years now, and while the fact that the owners of such vehicles, primarily from Libya, are practically untraceable when it comes to meting out tickets for traffic violations, the issue, if left un- addressed, is also bound to impact Maltese insurers’ and drivers’ bottom lines at one point or another.

According to insurance industry specialists speaking with this newspaper, the main issued lies with the growing number of Libyan-registered vehicles that make their way to Malta, via Tunisia and Italy. While there are no direct ferries from Libya to Malta at present, it is believed that such vehicles usually make their way from Libya to neighbouring Tunisia, where they are boarded onto ferries to Italy. And from Italy it is merely another ferry trip away to Malta.

In response to the article, Malta Insurance Association Motor Section Chairman Francis Valletta explained that the MIA has “for some time been concerned about the risk of uninsured foreign registered vehicles being driven on our roads. As explained in the article, victims of accidents caused by such vehicles are protected by law as they are entitled to receive compensation from the Protection & Compensation Fund which is financed by motor insurers operating in Malta. One must keep in mind that ultimately the cost of these claims ends up being borne by all motorists who insure their vehicles as it is incorporated in the premium they pay.

“Various discussions on this matter have been held both with Transport Malta and the police, and the Association acknowledges that spot checks are being carried out by the authorities to verify, among other things, that these vehicles are correctly insured. The MIA believes that with more enforcement the risk can be substantially reduced.”

The MIA appealed to the authorities for stronger enforcement in respect of other abuses on our roads some of which regularly lead to accidents.

“We mention in particular motorists who park in such a way as to obstruct traffic, those who overspeed, those who use their phones while driving and those who drink and drive. This year, there have already been 11 fatalities on our roads while statistics published show that in the first three months of the year the number of reported accidents increased by four per cent while the number of people injured increased by 29 per cent.”

The MIA pointed out how in December 2015 it donated 15 roadside alcohol kits to the police force. Although there have been reports of the effective use of these kits, the MIA said it feels that much stronger action needs to be taken.

“Many do not consider it risky to drink and drive as they believe that the possibility of being tested or of actually having an accident is very low. The police must not only be given the necessary resources to combat drink driving, they also need the necessary powers to carry out random testing.

“How many more people have to die or be maimed before we reach the standard of driving found in other European countries? If we do not take action now more human tragedies are likely to occur.

“The MIA therefore urges the authorities to increase their efforts in enforcing traffic rules and regulations and to take all legislative action necessary to make sure that such enforcement is truly effective. It also appeals to motorists to drive more responsibly and be more aware of the consequences, often tragic, of their recklessness or negligence. While financial compensation can help solve many problems, it can never replace the loss of life or limb.”