It has been nearly a month since the start of the new scholastic year, and Malta’s traffic situation, already a nightmare, has taken a further plunge from bad to worse. It seems that no matter how early one leaves for work, traffic congestion is inevitable. In fact, even leaving as early as 6:15 a.m. doesn’t guarantee reaching you destination hassle free. The reason behind this chaos is no mystery: everyone is trying to beat the traffic by leaving earlier, with the unfortunate result that rush hour now stretches endlessly. The entire day feels like rush hour in Malta, and even leaving later doesn’t mean a smooth journey. This is clear evidence that the problem goes far beyond school transport—Malta’s road network has reached saturation.

The root of the issue is simple: the rate at which private cars are flooding our streets has far outpaced any infrastructural works to accommodate them. It only takes one minor collision to bring traffic to a complete standstill, jamming half the country. In the face of such widespread disruption, the government seems at a complete loss for a solution.

The introduction of free bus services was a commendable initiative, but it hasn’t made the dent one might hope for. During rush hour, certain areas like Msida and the Bombi Flyover in Floriana resemble apocalyptic scenes, with large crowds of commuters waiting for overcrowded buses. The public transport system’s reliability is being eroded, and these scenes are certainly not enticing people to leave their cars at home. This inability to meet demand in key areas, coupled with Malta’s notorious traffic, is discouraging would-be public transport users rather than winning them over.

So what is the way forward? It should certainly not be through punitive measures like new taxes, which would only serve to burden low-income earners and exacerbate social inequality. Quick fixes like this would do little to address the underlying issues. Instead, Malta needs tangible, long-term alternatives—feasible and deliverable solutions like a mass transport system.

Unfortunately, the promise of a metro system unveiled in the run-up to the 2022 general election turned out to be nothing more than a pipe dream. Many citizens feel that they were taken for a ride—pun intended—when this grand project turned into a mirage. This has led to a deep-seated mistrust in the government’s ability to deliver real transport solutions.

In the meantime, the authorities seem content to do nothing, perhaps hoping that the situation will magically improve on its own or leaving it for a future government to sort out. It’s like knowing you’re driving straight into a brick wall and doing nothing to change course. The traffic crisis in Malta requires immediate action, not political inertia. We can’t continue to pretend that the issue will resolve itself. It’s time for the government to take meaningful steps before the country comes to a complete standstill.