National Travel Survey confirms Maltese dependency on private cars

Finding that fully two-thirds of the population prefer private cars over the bus system, the newly-released national travel survey confirm the Maltese dependency on private vehicles as a means of getting around – even within the same locality.

9 December 2010, 12:00am
by Nestor Laiviera

2 min read

Malta’s traffic congestion problems need more than merely an overhaul of the bus system, and the problem is a long-term one that “won’t vanish soon,” says Transport Minister Austin Gatt when speaking during the survey presentation.

Read Gatt's remarks on traffic congestion and up-coming Emission Zones here.

Spanning across 6,666 households and 41,771 trips, the survey reveals the ‘modal split’ between public and private means of transportation. 75.7 per cent prefer using private vehicles, while only 15 per cent would be willing to brave the bus.

Both figures polarised as compared to similar studies conducted in 1998 and 1989. In 1998, 70.9 per cent preferred to sue private vehicles, and 17.6 per cent preferred to use public transport, while in 1989, only 55.7 per cent were ready to use private vehicles, while as many as 31.7% opted for buses.

The survey also found that as many as 13.1 per cent of all car trips were made within the boundary of one locality.

Malta’s average number of occupants per car remains significantly low – standing at 1.255 occupants per car in 2010. Having risen slightly from 1998’s 1.245, the figure remains well below 1989’s figure of 1.32.

The survey also revealed that households without a car increased from 13.8% to 15.6 per cent - possibly due to an increase of households with single older persons. Households with 3 or more cars increased drastically, from 15.4 per cent in 1998 to 19.6 per cent in 2010.

Despite having been found to be most popular for going to work with, buses have suffered a hit in that respect as well. Only 16.6 per cent said they use the bus to go work in 2010, compared to 1998’s 23.4 per cent and 1989’s 28.8 per cent.

Regarding the upcoming July 2011 public transport reform, the survey also determined that only 3 out of 10 were not aware of the widely-reported reform. The survey also found that 36.3 per cent of drivers and 48.1 per cent of passengers claim to be willing to use the public transport instead of a car.

The survey also forecasts that “if public transport is improved” the potential rise of Public Transport ‘share’ would rise from a mere 11.2 per cent to as high as 40 per cent.