Sliema Crash Puts Stalled Y-Plate Reforms in the Spotlight

A delivery driver suffered life-changing injuries in a serious road collision in Sliema, leading to the arrest and court appearance of Ahmed Abdussalam Tarhuni, a 33-year-old Libyan national who was remanded in custody. Tarhuni faces charges of negligent driving causing serious injury. Proceedings are at an early stage and no findings of guilt have been made.

Transport Malta called an emergency meeting with ride-hailing companies and other Y-plate industry representatives in the aftermath. Y-plate vehicles cover ride-hailing platforms and delivery services operating for hire or reward, and sit under a distinct regulatory framework governing driver licensing, insurance, and operational oversight. Proposals targeting the Y-plate sector had first been put forward roughly eight months before the Sliema crash.

Transport Malta was scrambling to push those reforms forward following the collision. The crash involved the type of operator the proposals were designed to regulate, and Transport Malta convened the emergency meeting the same day. Transport Malta has not announced a revised timetable for the reforms or said whether it will pursue binding measures before the next round of consultation.

Delivery drivers and Y-plate operators are awaiting that confirmation.