Fewer than two per cent of drivers involved in serious accidents breathalysed

Less than two per cent of drivers involved in serious accidents are being breathalysed, a study among insurers has revealed. 
Carried out recently by the Malta Insurance Association among all its members, the study showed that the authorities breathalysed only a few of those involved in such accidents. 
“While insurance companies are obliged at law to compensate third parties, they have to go through a lengthy court process to ascertain whether a drunk driver – hence driving illegally under the influence of alcohol – was to blame,” association head Adrian Galea said.
This newspaper sought the insurers’ views after data tabled in Parliament this week by Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia showed that in recent years, the number of motorists tested for alcohol remained relatively constant. 
 

Last year, 165 drivers were tested, of which 106 were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. 
In the previous year, 155 drivers were breathalysed while in 2016, this figure stood at 241, the highest in four years. There were just 146 drivers tested for alcohol in 2015.
On these figures, the association head insisted that insurers remained sceptical, questioning whether...