Transport Malta changes licence rules after Sliema Y-plate crash
Rules for third-country nationals quietly changed, days after major crash in Sliema
Transport Malta has tightened driving licence rules after a man charged over a major crash in Sliema was found with a driving licence but an expired residence permit.
Under the new rules, licences for third-country nationals will be tied to the validity of their residence permit. If the permit runs out in 18 months, the licence will also expire in 18 months, and holders will pay proportionally for the shorter licence rather than a full multi-year fee.
The changes apply to probationary driving licences, renewals of driving licences and driving licence amendments for third-country nationals.
Transport Malta updated its website to reflect the changes on May 13, days after a Y-plate driver hit a man on the Sliema Strand while allegedly driving drunk. The victim lost a leg in the incident.
Shortly after, Transport Malta called Y-plate industry players for a meeting to introduce reforms to the Y-plate sector.
When the driver involved in the Sliema incident, Ahmed Tahruni, appeared in court, police said they intended to investigate how Tahruni had a driving licence stamped by Transport Malta, despite not having a valid residence permit. Transport Malta did not respond to questions about the change in rules.
Reforms of rules for Y-plate cab drivers have long been in the works but have yet to fully materialise. Part of the reform envisaged introducing facial recognition requirements for drivers and blacklisting any drivers found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit.
Nine months earlier, another Y-plate driver crashed his car into a hair salon in Santa Venera. The driver admitted to being drunk behind the wheel at the time and was handed a six-month sentence, suspended for two years.
In recent days, Transport Malta published two preliminary market consultations in connection with the reforms.
One consultation calls for new software to oversee operating licences across different taxi services. The other is for tracking devices to be installed in Y-Plate cabs operating across booking platforms.