A study by the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Malta found that unless significant changes are made, the country will lose € 89m from traffic accidents; € 15.3m in air pollution costs; € 51.2m in climate change costs; € 10.4m in costs associated with noise; and €151 m from traffic congestion.
The researchers are assessing how to increase the efficiency of public transport through park and ride schemes; using and deploying non-road modes and improving the traffic network through intelligent transport services.
‘Road pricing and paid parking, aided by complementary educational, environmental and planning measures in specific areas, could be considered as policy options but their effectiveness and impacts need to be studied in depth,’ write the authors of the study.
