The Land Transport Directorate (LTD

Pierre Montebello Chief Officer Land Transport Directorate

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Land Transport Directorate within Transport Malta is one of the largest directorates of the Authority, and definitely the largest directorate in terms of transactions effected every year. It has the overall responsibility for licensing and regulating all forms of land transport, vehicles, driver licensing and licences, scheduled and unscheduled bus services, commercial road transport operators including haulage activities, and also for the provision of a properly integrated, safe, sustainable and efficient public transport system.

The Directorate applies and develops an effective regulatory framework for land transport with road safety as a top priority, whilst simultaneously promoting socioeconomic development and the protection of the environment.

The core strategic objectives of the Directorate are:

• Achieving a Modal shift;Addressing Road safety; • Promotion of Eco-friendly transport; and • Customer service.

The Land Transport Directorate is headed by the Chief Officer and is divided into a number of Units or departments, each managed by the Deputy Chief Officer or the respective Director, as follows:

1. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Unit (DVLU), operating from TM offices in Paola and Ħal Lija 2. The Driver Permits Testing and Training Unit (DPTTU), operating from Floriana 3. Road Transport Licensing Unit 4. Legal and Regulatory Unit 5. The Public Transport Unit (PTU)

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Unit (DVLU), operating from offices in Ħal Lija and Paola

The Unit’s core competences are the registration and licensing of both vehicles and drivers, whilst ensuring compliance and safeguarding of the Government’s revenue. The Unit also manages the several grants and road transport related schemes issued annually by the Government.

*Approximate figures

The number of transactions carried out annually is impressive to say the least, and in a typical year, such transactions include: *

• 25,000 newly registered vehicles55,000 change of vehicle ownership • 15,000 garaging and de-garaging of vehicles10,000 scrapped vehicles400,000 road

licence renewals • 10,000 changes to vehicles’ details and information • 30,000 driving licence renewals • 14,000 changes to driving licences

In 2020, the number of newly registered vehicles in Malta was 19,479, the number of new imported vehicle registrations was that of 8,087, newly imported second-hand vehicles amounted to 11,392 of which new EVs 228 cars, 355 motorcycles including scooters and mopeds. Newly registered USED Evs - 203 cars and 5 M/Cycles. While the number of scrapped vehicles was that of 8,165.

Table shows Newly registered vehicles increase from 2014 to 2020.

The effects that Brexit will be having on this sector are not yet fully known, but this advent may have a huge impact on newly registered secondhand vehicles in Malta, since the majority of second-hand vehicles were traditionally imported from the UK. The additional fees related to customs duty, value added tax (VAT) and other expenses, which can add up to more than 30% , may have a huge negative impact on the second-hand market in the country.

Table shows number of scrapped vehicles from 2014 to 2020.

In relation to schemes, the LTD was at the forefront (together with the MNEP as far as Electric Vehicles are concerned) of implementing several schemes, such as promoting the uptake of eco-friendly or ‘alternative’ cleaner means of transport, particularly electric vehicles. The schemes enable citizens to make the necessary leap into giving their own contribution towards improved air quality. These include the ever popular scrappage scheme, subsidies (running into thousands of euros) on the purchase of both new and used electric vehicles,

huge subsidisations on the yearly running costs related to circulation (the annual circulation licence fee is free for the first five years), as well as grants related to Autogas/LPG conversion of vehicles. One needs to emphasise that every new or used electric vehicle is exempt from paying registration tax, and from paying any road licence fees for the first five years, or from first year of registration in the case of imported second-hand electric vehicles. Electric Vehicle types include full Electric Vehicles, Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles, electric motorcycles, electric mopeds, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, and others. This exemption is applicable to individuals, companies, NGOs, local councils and Governmental departments. This is a clear sign that electromobility is one of the main priorities.

At the time of writing, Transport Malta is in the process of reissuing financial grant schemes that were in place last year, whilst introducing new ones. These shall include: financial grants for the conversion of vehicles to Autogas and the retrofitting of heavy-duty vehicles with Heavy Duty Duel Fuel (HDDF) systems; a scrappage scheme for conventional cars; financial grants for the purchase of electric vehicles (including motorcycles, by private individuals, registered NGOs and private companies), and financial grants for the purchase of new wheelchair-accessible passenger transport vehicles. Moreover, from the 1st of January 2021, a new vehicle registration tax and licence fee regime came into force for vehicles with new CO₂ emission values. New cars certified by the manufacturer according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light

Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) and having CO₂ emission values of WLTP can benefit from lower registration tax and licence fee rates.

Source: https://www.wltpfacts.eu/

To this effect, from the start of year, Transport Malta has introduced a new vehicle registration tax and licence fee regime based on CO₂ WLTP values that will either have a neutral or positive impact (in terms of lower registration tax and licence fees) on consumers.

6. The Driver Permits Testing and Training Unit (DPTTU), operating from Floriana

This Unit is responsible for the processing and scheduling of all driving test applications for the following licence categories:

• B1 (Quad bikes); • B (Cars); • A1, A2, A (Motorcycles); • C1, C (Heavy goods vehicles); • BE, CE (Trailers); • D1, D (Public transport vehicles); • TAXI tests; • CPC (Certificate of

Professional Competence) practical demonstration tests; and • Driving and instructional ability tests for prospective driving instructors.

The Unit provides other services to the public, such as:

• Reading assistance at the

Theory Test Centre; and • The processing and scheduling of translator-assisted theory tests.

Throughout 2020, albeit amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Unit conducted almost 13,000 practical driving tests (a comparatively small decrease over the previous years). These tests were carried out following stringent processes related to health and safety, fully in-line with the directions issued by the health authorities (Please also read separate article on driver testing, also published in this month’s edition).

Figure showing practical driving tests carried out between 2014 and 2020.

7. Road Transport Licensing Unit

The Road Transport Licensing Unit is primarily responsible for the regulation and policy development of vehicle and equipment standards, sustainable transport services, and the registration and licensing of transport operators, with road safety and modal shift as top priorities. This includes the regulation of passenger and goods transport operators such as taxis, horsedrawn cabs (karozzini), goods transport and dangerous goods transport operators, VRT stations, and licensed car park attendants. The CVA system is also coordinated by this Unit.

During the past year, the Unit was particularly active in the area of goods transport and related services, mainly due to changes being brought about by Brexit.

8. Legal and Regulatory Unit

With input from all other departments, the Legal and Regulatory Unit spearheads the regulation of all transport by road, the registration, licensing, and use of vehicles, the licensing of all commercial operations connected to road transport, and makes provisions for any legal matter in connection with transport by road. All changes to laws and regulations related to road transport pass through this Unit.

In fact, throughout 2020, the Land Transport Directorate compiled and processed amendments to

transport-related regulations and put into place administrative provisions to bring into effect the relative provisions.

These included:

• Several amendments to Driving Licences

Regulations;Amendments to

Taxi Services Regulations by means of LN 416 of 2020. • Amendments to the Motor

Vehicles (Driving Licences)

Regulations by means of LN 193 of 2020. • Light Passenger Transport

Vehicles and Vehicle Hire

Services Regulations LN 366 of 2020.

At the end of 2019, and following a public consultation period, the Land Transport Directorate also regularised the use of e-KickScooters. The Micromobility Regulations (S.L. 499.67, LN 352 of 2019) were in fact drawn following a ‘new’ reality we are regularly experiencing on our roads.

The Legal and Regulatory Unit also liaises on regular basis with Police and other law enforcement agencies, both locally (including LESA, and our own Enforcement Unit) and abroad. The Unit is also heavily involved in the certification of vintage vehicles.

9. The Public Transport Unit (PTU)

The PTU ensures the provision of adequate, efficient and environmentally friendly public transport systems. One of the main remits of the unit is to manage the relationship with the scheduled public transport operator. The unit monitors the various performance, service and quality indicators as outlined in the agreement with the same operator (running up to January 2030).

Monitoring is broadly divided into two categories, them being Quality and Performance.

Quality:

• Checks are carried out through

Physical Inspections done by

Public Transport Officers. • There are 4 types of inspections, these being Safety (36 checks per inspection), Buses (30 checks per inspection),

Employees/Drivers (17 checks per inspection) and

Infrastructure (10 checks per inspection). • Typically, around 18,000 inspections are carried out on a yearly basis.

Figure shows number of physical inspections carried out from 2015 to 2020.

Performance:

There are 4 main performance indicators, these being Punctuality, Reliability, Leaving Early and Unauthorised Route Diversions. These are monitored through GPS data received from the Bus Operator.

The contract regulates the service and its level and quality . The Unit takes the indicated action in cases of non-compliance.

The Public Transport Unit, the Road Transport Licensing Unit and the Legal and Regulatory Unit all operate from Transport Malta’s offices in Paola. The latter has just moved to refurbished offices just opposite the DVLU offices, where customers are provided with an even better customer experience.

Although each of the above Units has specific and distinct areas of responsibility, these work in unison to guarantee the highest level of service to their customers. The Land Transport Directorate also works very closely with third party entities, including government departments as well and insurance agencies and brokers, guaranteeing the full range of transportrelated services. This aims towards fulfilling the requirements of a one-stop-shop concept.

I take the opportunity to thank the management and all employees for the fervour they show in fulfilling their job and the sterling work they carry out.