July speeding fines drop a fifth from last year
778 were using their mobile phone while driving
Updated 4pm with LESA figures from last year
A total of 2,963 drivers were slapped with a fine for speeding in July, a 20% drop when compared to the same period last year, LESA said.
In a Facebook post, LESA said a total of 4,966 contravention tickets were issued to motorists last month who failed to follow the highway code.
Figures sent to Times of Malta show that the number of tickets handed out to drivers for speeding dropped by a fifth when compared to July 2024, when a total of 3,690 fines were handed out.
Motorists caught driving at up to 15km/h over the limit are handed a €34.94 fine. Those driving over 15km/per hour over the limit are slapped with a €69.88 fine.
LESA said 778 drivers were caught last month using their mobile phones while driving, an increase from the 612 who were caught in July last year.
They were each fined €200 and are liable to having nine penalty points added to their licence.
For bus and taxi drivers, as well as anyone else carrying passengers as part of their job, the fine was even steeper- €300.
554 found driving without a licence in a month
Another 554 motorists were caught driving with no road licence, reflecting another drop in figures when compared to the 605 who were caught with no road licence in July 2024.
In July 2024, 132 drivers were caught not wearing a seatbelt, while 349 were caught last month.
Not wearing a seatbelt can land a driver with a €46.59 fine.
Another 322 contraventions were issued for drivers on no-entry roads. 132 drivers were slapped with a similar contravention in July of last year.
The figures reflect a month in which six people died on Malta's roads, with the deadliest week in at least 25 years marked between July 23 and 29.
Among the six victims was Mildred Azzopardi, a mother of four, who died at the scene on July 27, when a car ploughed into her car as she was placing items in the boot. On Tuesday, a court heard how Chetcuti was five times over the alcohol limit.
Two other people died in separate traffic accidents, also on July 27. A motorcyclist died in an accident the previous day.
On July 23, a 79-year-old woman from Mosta died after the Renault van she was a passenger in crashed with a Suzuki Swift car in Lija.