EDWARD for September

● Car sharing can be worthwhile

‘European Day Without A Road Death (EDWARD)’ is one of the projects scheduled for 21 September during European Mobility Week, which will be taking place between 16th and 22nd September.

The Malta Automobile Club is encouraging friends through its page on Facebook to “make the pledge” and support Project EDWARD 2017. Readers and drivers who have an interest in road safety can do the same. https://projectedward.eu/ When one selects the “make the pledge” icon from the website, you are taken to “My Road Safety Pledge” where you promise to do or not to do a whole series of actions as a driver. These actions should be followed by all drivers all the time.

After completing the pledge, you will receive a “Certificate of Completion”. If the majority of drivers on Malta’s roads abide by the promise, our roads will become a lot safer independently of traffic congestion or not.

Among the traffic rules that the Malta Automobile Club wishes to highlight on this occasion are the “Stop”, “Yield” and “Pedestrian Crossing” traffic signs.

Unfortunately, a large number of drivers ignore the first two signs, while a few also ignore the third sign. These could lead to serious accidents, and even death.

If more drivers pay more attention to these traffic signs, the level of driving in Malta will improve.

While every loss of life is one too many, the Malta Automobile Club suggests that for this year, EDWARD is extended from just one day on 21st September, to the whole month of September, and if possible even before and after this month.

With a little more attention by all road users, accidents could be drastically reduced, and we should make every effort to do so.

The Malta Automobile Club is also in favour of car sharing or carpooling, not only for the European Mobility Week. Car sharing is worthwhile. Expenses on fuel and car maintenance could be reduced by as much as 50 per cent if we share routine driving journeys, particularly to work. http://www.mobilityweek.eu/ In this way, we could contribute to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, and might stand a better chance of finding a parking space.

In the United States, carpooling is very popular where there are High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Solo drivers pick up passengers at “slugging lines” so that they can use the HOV lanes.

We could do the same in Malta to make use of the “bus lanes”. Car owners and drivers who are interested in sharing rides can consult the “Bumalift” community, or post the place of departure, place of destination and time of departure on the Malta Automobile Club page on Facebook.

Other car owners and drivers who have similar places of departure and destination at more or less the same time can contact each other and share their rides. The Malta Automobile Club page on Facebook may be used as a platform to bring people together and share their rides.

The Malta Automobile Club invites all drivers in Malta to make an effort and give their contribution to make this year’s European Mobility Week a success. F: Malta Automobile Club ■ Alfred A. Farrugia Malta Automobile Club