If there’s one thing that’s just as frustrating as Malta’s traffic jams, it’s the ever-increasing hassle of looking for parking. Qormi seem to be onto a winning idea, though, with the latest technology recently spotted in the streets.

The recently-installed electronic sensor system is as simple as it is efficient, and is something that has already started being implemented in new car parks around the island. 

Yesterday, a photo was shared on Facebook of a traffic sign in Qormi which showed how many parking spaces were available in three long, busy and intersecting streets in the area. The trio includes Triq il-Vitorja, one of the town’s longest main roads which also hosts the Qormi Health Centre.

The photo quickly gained traction, and soon, people were sharing it all over Facebook. It even made it to the official page of Gadgets, the award-winning tech TV series. Needless to say, people urged other localities in Malta to take up Qormi’s incentive. 

Of course, with this being Malta in 2017, it didn’t take long for the snide comments, the sarcastic jabs and the memes to come out. 

“Malta’s signs should always have -124 showing,” one person said, with another person commenting on how the Qormi Local Council should add another sign next to it saying, “Book now to avoid disappointment!”

And of course, a visual representation of how tough it is to get a parking space in Malta (especially in localities like Sliema) quickly showed up in the form of a hilarious meme showing places like Qui Si Sana marking -22 parking spaces.

In a video shared by the Qormi Local Council, mayor Rosianne Cutajar had explained the idea, which had won the 2016 Mobility Action Award. 

The system includes the installation of 125 sensors within the streets’ asphalt. The sensors send messages to gateways which in turn relay the info to strategically-placed signs around the streets of Qormi.

In the video, Cutajar also announced that the Government would be implemented in other localities around Malta and Gozo.

Share this post if you want to see this sign in your village!

READ NEXT: The 7 People You Meet When Parking In Malta

David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).