Motor sport and road discipline

A proposal has been submitted by a group of international motor sport enthusiasts who are keen to build what has been termed as a “motor sport and road safety facility” in Malta. At a recent business breakfast with Maltese and international enthusiasts, the Prime Minister said that a plot of land near Malta International Airport, close to Safi and Kirkop, was actively being considered for such a facility.

It would require a land area of about 40 hectares, or about 400,000 square metres. This is the equivalent of about 37 football pitches. In a country where land is one of our most precious resources, this is a not inconsiderable allocation of public land for a fairly esoteric sport.

The Malta Motor Sport Federation makes the case for its allocation on much wider grounds than the enjoyment of an activity that is non-existent in Malta. Its case is built on three main planks. First, it would not simply be another sports facility. It would also provide long overdue road safety training that will help reduce accidents by “offering the highest educational programmes for users of all ages”.

Secondly, it will create new jobs (though the number is not stated) and “educational opportunities” in the fields of engineering and road-testing.

The third objective mentioned is to build a new tourism niche “offering testing facilities to professional motor racing teams in the winter and training facilities for aspiring racing drivers”.

The case for such a facility is not unattractive. It is little wonder that both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have expressed qualified support. Having said that, there are inevitably a number of wider questions at stake which require careful consideration.

The first is land use. Is this really the best use of a large area of prime public land adjacent to the airport when weighed against other potential employment-generating projects, such as the highly successful Lufthansa facility?

The question of the environmental impact of a multifunctional motor sport facility on the villages of Safi and Kirkop, as well as further afield, also bulks large. They are already subject to considerable noise pollution from the airport.

The arrival of motor racing will increase noise levels significantly. There could also be environmental health issues as a result of reduced air quality in the area and the emission of particulate matter from the fuels used in motor racing.

But the overriding factor for consideration will be its financial and commercial viability. The business feasibility of bringing motor racing to Malta in the face of considerable competition from the Middle East and Europe requires much closer examination before a persuasive case can be made to embark on this project.

The unique selling point for the project is the prospect of improving driving skills in Malta. While such a facility might provide the improved physical environment for driver training, the effectiveness of road safety depends ultimately on the motorist’s behaviour, which is not dependent alone on training facilities.

The driver is the first link in the safety chain on the road. If his/her behaviour is not disciplined, courteous and technically skilful, poor driving standards on Maltese roads will persist.

However, the remedy does not turn exclusively on better training facilities but on other factors such as the imposition of better road discipline and rigid application of the law, better road infrastructure, the inculcation of greater courtesy and higher driving test standards.

The jury is still out on the viability or desirability of building a motor sport facility in this country.