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Driving Association Accuse Transport Malta Of Not Following Up On Reports Of Unregistered Instructors

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The Malta Driving Instructor Association has spoken up about an influx of driving instructors operating without the proper tags despite several reports made by the association to Transport Malta (TM).

“The situation has been deteriorating in the past decade to an extent that we might not even be able to revert back, as standards keep going lower and lower,” president of the association, Philbert Borg, told Lovin Malta.

During our conversation, Borg discussed several aspects of neglect within the driving instructors industry both from TM and the Transport Ministry.

One of the main things he criticised was the allegation that there are and have been several driving instructors operating without the proper tag because they wouldn’t have passed the relevant examination.

Thus meaning they are unregistered and legally not supposed to work.

Borg explained that this problem has been reported time and time again – both by the association and by individual instructors – however, they remain in operation.

“These individuals are left operating freely so much so that they also have the audacity to present candidates for practical tests, and the same examiners that meet with them when they are presenting candidates for practical driving tests, examine their driving instructor tests – so they would be aware that such individuals are not instructors.”

Meanwhile, Borg admitted that TM has deployed more enforcement in response to reports, but, “it seems that, miraculously, these individuals are never stopped for an inspection and thus, they keep operating freely.”

Borg explained that the crimes committed by these unregistered instructors shines a negative light on the industry as a whole, despite there being many who “have their jobs at heart and do their best to provide professional driving tuition”.

As a matter of fact, there was a case back in 2020 of a couple being charged with money laundering, living a lifestyle which exceeds their income, and tax evasion – one of the partners was an unregistered driving instructor.

Similarly, Borg alleged that an instructor who was found guilty of fraud and was reported to the authorities in relation to the misappropriation of money from candidates, is being left to freely operate.

Several reports have been forwarded to TM, Borg claimed.

The news of the instructor’s court case came as “no surprise” to the driving instructor community as she had allegedly been reported to TM for possible wrongdoing multiple times before, according to Borg.

“The only answer we ever received was to bring proof of such allegations. It is understandable for the authorities to be unable to investigate all allegations but when numerous complaints/reports are being handed to the authorities then it must have been obvious that something wrong was going on and that the authorities should have proceeded with an internal investigation.”

This is not a photo of the actual sign

This is not a photo of the actual sign

Borg went on to shed light on the conditions that Maltese driving instructors endure due to a lack of investment into the industry.

He argued that the waiting rooms are inappropriately sized with 20 people crammed in a three by two meter waiting room where the air conditioner is solely a decorative feature – even during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, there was a year-long period when toilets were not available and after a multitude of alleged complaints, the Transport Minister installed a mobile toilet which quickly overflowed.

Now there is another structure, Borg explained, which is better but has never been in service for “longer than three weeks”.

Alternatively, Borg further stressed on the need for manoeuvring areas for heavy vehicles and motorcycle training, “motoring schools have been asking for this for years but to no avail”.

“Where are candidates expected to practice if the few open areas still available are slowly being taken such as the parking area in the trade fair grounds?”

“The association had several meetings with TM in the past years, including this one, but even though we are given high hopes on the situation to be improved, little or no effort is provided to improve the situation.”

“So many valid instructors have decided to go for a different line of work in the past years as they saw that their efforts to better themselves were futile. It seems that the ones who invest are the ones to lose while the ones who operate illegally or under the average are the ones to be rewarded.”

Borg continued to lament at the constant news of serious accidents despite millions of euros being spent on roads and infrastructure.

“How are the authorities expecting to have good and safe drivers in Maltese roads if you do not invest in such drivers?”

“There is more investment in billboards, Facebook ads and video prepping to promote infrastructure projects than on new drivers which makes no sense.”

Lovin Malta has reached out to Transport Malta for comments on these claims, we are currently awaiting a response.

This interview comes after several victims of harassment by their driving instructors shared their disturbing stories with Lovin Malta. Regarding this matter, Borg said that “the association condemns such behaviours and are glad to hear that these individuals are no longer operating as driving instructors. It is unfortunate that such individuals abuse of their position of trust.”

What do you make of the association’s accusations?

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Ana is a university graduate who loves a heated debate, she’s very passionate about humanitarian issues and justice. In her free time you’ll probably catch her binge watching way too many TV shows or thinking about her next meal.

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