Focus should be on paying down the government debt, and not wasting money on a measure which will have little to no positive impact on society.
https://timesofmalta.com/article/25000-deal-1830-year-olds-give-driving-licence-cash-january.1121351
Posted by Sus198
6 Comments
Theyre just trying to look like theyre doing something because the majority of the population doesnt want to have it fixed. They want to live in a fantasy where everyone drives all the time in a densely populated area and theres no traffic.
Just another way to hand out taxpayer money to whom they want and a lot of people will be getting money when they really shouldn’t. Not even Trump could come up with such a mediocre proposal. I wonder how they will control this because in over 20 years of driving, I was never asked for my driver’s license ever. Also, traffic will be just about the same.
I’m convinced that they’re just trying to get people to stop talking about how young people cannot afford a house. I know some younger cousins who are totally gonna do this to get their down payment.
I’m impressed how in Malta the solution to everything is money. 🤮 Infertility rate is low? Give them some money. Traffic problems? Give them some money.
We’re probably going to need remote work incentives to have a chance at cutting down rush hour traffic.
I’d like to think they did appropriate stakeholder consultation and “market” research.
In isolation, I don’t think it will have a lot of success. However, paired with the free public transport and proposed infrastructure improvements for cyclists and pedestrians, it might help?
As a stand alone measure it’s obviously no silver bullet – but might a good component of a wider package.
IMO – the best ways to reduce traffic would be (in no particular order):
– Increase taxes/costs for second or more vehicles per person
– Change the permissable hours of HGV operation to not coincide with rush hour peaks
– Change the hours of waste collection (I.E. night time)
– Push for stronger teleworking agreements/rights where possible
– Make public transport more appealing… For me that includes better temperature regulation, larger seats, more frequent buses and shaded/covered bus stops
– Subsidised/regulated taxi ride fares
Like. I’d be alright with using the buses more but as it is, it takes longer, it’s bloody uncomfortable (6ft plus broad shoulders mean I take up 1.5 seats) and for most of the year, waaaay to warm either waiting for a bus or being in one.
As is. The current bus system is my last resort. And I used London public transport extensively for 2 years and it was brilliant.
As for taxis, the current model is all about supply and demand. Trip costs balloon upwards during high demand times and at popular destinations. IMO the government should step in to find a fixed price system that is profitable for the drivers/operators and is more reasonable for the users.
Edit: Given it was recently calculated/estimated that traffic takes €700mil out of the economy per year, there’s a strong cost to benefit ratio argument for spending money to address traffic issues. Obviously, that only works if the math is correct and the plans work…