One Direction
Keywords:
traffic, quality of life, wellbeing, frustration, challenges
Abstract
This paper draws on the data from the study commissioned by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing (University of Malta) in 2023 called ‘The perceived effect of traffic on our wellbeing amongst the Maltese Population’. It seeks to navigate around the seeming impact of traffic on the populace, in terms of social wellbeing. In this paper, we will be revealing that there are no two ways around this phenomenon. What we will be referring to as the ‘trafficisation’ in our communities is having a major impact on our standard of living. In other words, the commodification of our communities, and car ownership as one of the indicators, is starting to leave an indelible mark on the livability and quality of life of its citizens. The liminality of progress and economic affluence in relation to our quality of life is the tension that will be debated in this epistemological-driven piece of work. The paper will attempt to confer the research question that livability and improved quality of life depend on re-negotiating a lifestyle which is not car-centric.
References
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Adams, J. S. (1963). Towards an understanding of inequity. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(5), 422-436. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040968
Alexander, R. D. (1990). How did humans evolve? Reflections on the uniquely unique species.
Appleyard, D. (1964). The view from the road. Published for the Joint Center for Urban Studies of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard U by the M.I.T.
Appleyard, D. (1979). The conservation of European cities. M.I.T.
Appleyard, D. (1980). Livable streets: Protected neighborhoods? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 451(1), 106-117.
Azzopardi, A. (2011). Special Issue Editorial: Creating Inclusive Communities. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 15(1), 1-4.
Azzopardi, A., & Grech, S. (2012). Inclusive Communities: A Critical Reader. Sense Publishers.
Azzopardi, A., Bonnici, J., & Marmara, V. (2021). General opinion survey of the Maltese population.
Balzan, J. (2023, February 23). Traffic causing anger, anxiety, and fatigue, new study shows. Newsbook. Retrieved from https://newsbook.com.mt/en/traffic-causing-anger-anxiety-and-fatigue-new-study-shows/
Bonnes, M. (2003). Psychological Theories for Environmental Issues. Florence: Routledge, Eth- noscapes.
Borg, A. (2021, June 27). “Żieda fl-ansjetà minħabba t-traffiku” - Dr Anton Grech. Newsbook. Retrieved from https://newsbook.com.mt/filmat-zieda-fl-ansjeta-minhabba-t-traffiku-dr-anton-grech
Borg, N. (2023, February 15). Malta saw 32 new vehicles on the road every day last year. Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/malta-saw-35-new-vehicles-road-every-day-last- year.1013796
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. Harvard University Press.
Calleja, C. (2020, December 6). Traffic is increasingly impacting the quality of life, survey shows. Times of Malta. Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/traffic-is-increasingly-im-pacting-the-quality-of-life-survey-shows.836870
Calleja, C. (2022, October 5). 800 traffic accidents involving death or injuries in past three years. Times of Malta. Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/800-traffic-accidents-involving-death-injuries-past-three-years.985289
Conceição, M., Monteiro, M., Kasraian, D., van den Berg, P., Haustein,S., Alves, I., Azevedo, C., & Miranda, B. (2023). The effect of transport infrastructure, congestion and reliability on mental wellbeing: A systematic review of empirical studies, Transport Reviews, 43(2). 264-302, https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2022.2100943
De Vasconcellos, E. A. (2004). The Use of Streets: A Reassessment and Tribute to Donald Appleyard. Journal of Urban Design, 9(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357480042000187686
European Commission (2013). Attitudes of Europeans towards urban mobility. Retrieved 14/2/24 from https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/1110
European Court of Auditors (2019). Urban mobility in the EU. Retrieved 14/2/24 from https://www.eca.europa.eu/lists/ecadocuments/ap19_07/ap_urban_mobility_en.pdf
Eurostat (2023). Passenger Cars in the EU. Retrieved 14/2/24 from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Passenger_cars_in_the_EU#A_7_.25_increase_in_EU-registered_passenger_cars_since_2017
Folke, C., et al. (2010). Resilience thinking: integrating resilience, adaptability and transformability. Ecology and society, 15(4). Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26268226
Frith, C. D. (2008). Social cognition. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 363(1499), 2033-2039. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0005
Fotel, T. (2006). Space, Power, and Mobility: Car Traffic as a Controversial Issue in Neighbourhood Regeneration. Environment and Planning, 38(4), 733-748. https://doi.org/10.1068/a36111
Fuller, S. (2013). On Commodification and the Progress of Knowledge in Society: A Defence. Spontaneous Generations, 7(1).
Gartman, D. (2004). Three ages of the automobile: The cultural logics of the car. Theory, Culture & Society, 21(4-5), 169-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764040460
Gifford, R. (2014). Environmental psychology: Principles and practice. Colville, WA: Optimal Books.
Kenardy, J., et al. (2018). Changing patterns in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode and generalized anxiety disorder over 24 months following a road traffic crash: Results from the UQ SuPPORT study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 236, 172-179.
Kim, Y., & Cannella Jr, A. A. (2008). Toward a social capital theory of director selection. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 16(4), 282-293.
Lauer, R. (2019). Is Social Ontology Prior to Social Scientific Methodology? Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 49(3), 171-189. https://doi.org/10.1177/0048393119840328
Ledwith, M. (2011). Community development: A critical approach (2nd ed.). Policy Press.
Linda, S. T. E. G. (2003). Can public transport compete with the private car? IATSS Research, 27(2), 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0386-1112(14)60141-2
Malta Today (2023). Man released on bail over Xemxija road rage incident. Retrieved from Man released on bail over Xemxija road rage incident (maltatoday.com.mt)
Moser, G., & Uzzell, D. (2003). Environmental Psychology. In Handbook of Psychology, I.B. Weiner (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/0471264385.wei0517
Newsbook (2021, June 25). Is traffic congestion driving us mad? Retrieved from https://newsbook.com.mt/en/is-traffic-congestion-driving-us-mad/
Pfeiffer, J. L., Pueschel, K., & Seifert, D. (2016). Interpersonal Violence in Road Rage: Cases from the Medico-Legal Center for Victims of Violence in Hamburg. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 39, 42-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2015.11.023
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.
Reiter, B. (2020). Fuzzy epistemology: Decolonizing the social sciences. Journal of Theory and Social Behavior, 50, 103-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/jtsb.12229
Rye, T., & Hrelja, R. (2020). Policies for reducing car traffic and their problematisation: Lessons from the mobility strategies of British, Dutch, German, and Swedish cities. Sustainability, 12(19), 8170. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198170
Sagalytics (2023). Final report: A Study about ‘The perceived effect of traffic on our wellbeing’ amongst the Maltese Population. Retrieved from https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/112592/1/A_study_about_%E2%80%98the_perceived_effect_of_traffic_on_our_wellbeing%E2%80%99_amongst_the_Maltese_population(2024).pdf?cv=1
Saliba, M. C. (2019). Determinants of automobile demand in the Maltese islands (Bachelor's dissertation).
Schleidt, W. M., & Shalter, M. D. (2003). Co-evolution of humans and canids. Evolution and Cognition, 9(1), 57-72.
Times of Malta (2022), March 18). Malta's population reaches 516,000, up 100,000 in 10 years Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltas-population-reaches-516000-up-100000-in-10-years.942378
The Malta Independent. (2023, February 14). TMID Editorial: Staggering traffic. Retrieved from https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-02-14/newspaper-leader/TMID-Editorial-Stagger-ing-traffic-6736249676
Transport Malta. Retrieved 12/4/23 from https://www.transport.gov.mt/transport-malta/about-us-848
Verbavatz, V., & Barthelemy, M. (2019). Critical factors for mitigating car traffic in cities. arXiv.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219559.
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future: The Brundtland Report. Oxford University Press.
Word Fact Book. Retrieved 9/4/2023 from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/
Zammit, A. (1986). Valletta and the system of human settlements in the Maltese Islands. Ekistics, 53(316/317), 89-95. JSTOR 43620704.
Adams, J. S. (1963). Towards an understanding of inequity. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(5), 422-436. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040968
Alexander, R. D. (1990). How did humans evolve? Reflections on the uniquely unique species.
Appleyard, D. (1964). The view from the road. Published for the Joint Center for Urban Studies of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard U by the M.I.T.
Appleyard, D. (1979). The conservation of European cities. M.I.T.
Appleyard, D. (1980). Livable streets: Protected neighborhoods? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 451(1), 106-117.
Azzopardi, A. (2011). Special Issue Editorial: Creating Inclusive Communities. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 15(1), 1-4.
Azzopardi, A., & Grech, S. (2012). Inclusive Communities: A Critical Reader. Sense Publishers.
Azzopardi, A., Bonnici, J., & Marmara, V. (2021). General opinion survey of the Maltese population.
Balzan, J. (2023, February 23). Traffic causing anger, anxiety, and fatigue, new study shows. Newsbook. Retrieved from https://newsbook.com.mt/en/traffic-causing-anger-anxiety-and-fatigue-new-study-shows/
Bonnes, M. (2003). Psychological Theories for Environmental Issues. Florence: Routledge, Eth- noscapes.
Borg, A. (2021, June 27). “Żieda fl-ansjetà minħabba t-traffiku” - Dr Anton Grech. Newsbook. Retrieved from https://newsbook.com.mt/filmat-zieda-fl-ansjeta-minhabba-t-traffiku-dr-anton-grech
Borg, N. (2023, February 15). Malta saw 32 new vehicles on the road every day last year. Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/malta-saw-35-new-vehicles-road-every-day-last- year.1013796
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. Harvard University Press.
Calleja, C. (2020, December 6). Traffic is increasingly impacting the quality of life, survey shows. Times of Malta. Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/traffic-is-increasingly-im-pacting-the-quality-of-life-survey-shows.836870
Calleja, C. (2022, October 5). 800 traffic accidents involving death or injuries in past three years. Times of Malta. Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/800-traffic-accidents-involving-death-injuries-past-three-years.985289
Conceição, M., Monteiro, M., Kasraian, D., van den Berg, P., Haustein,S., Alves, I., Azevedo, C., & Miranda, B. (2023). The effect of transport infrastructure, congestion and reliability on mental wellbeing: A systematic review of empirical studies, Transport Reviews, 43(2). 264-302, https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2022.2100943
De Vasconcellos, E. A. (2004). The Use of Streets: A Reassessment and Tribute to Donald Appleyard. Journal of Urban Design, 9(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357480042000187686
European Commission (2013). Attitudes of Europeans towards urban mobility. Retrieved 14/2/24 from https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/1110
European Court of Auditors (2019). Urban mobility in the EU. Retrieved 14/2/24 from https://www.eca.europa.eu/lists/ecadocuments/ap19_07/ap_urban_mobility_en.pdf
Eurostat (2023). Passenger Cars in the EU. Retrieved 14/2/24 from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Passenger_cars_in_the_EU#A_7_.25_increase_in_EU-registered_passenger_cars_since_2017
Folke, C., et al. (2010). Resilience thinking: integrating resilience, adaptability and transformability. Ecology and society, 15(4). Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26268226
Frith, C. D. (2008). Social cognition. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 363(1499), 2033-2039. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0005
Fotel, T. (2006). Space, Power, and Mobility: Car Traffic as a Controversial Issue in Neighbourhood Regeneration. Environment and Planning, 38(4), 733-748. https://doi.org/10.1068/a36111
Fuller, S. (2013). On Commodification and the Progress of Knowledge in Society: A Defence. Spontaneous Generations, 7(1).
Gartman, D. (2004). Three ages of the automobile: The cultural logics of the car. Theory, Culture & Society, 21(4-5), 169-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764040460
Gifford, R. (2014). Environmental psychology: Principles and practice. Colville, WA: Optimal Books.
Kenardy, J., et al. (2018). Changing patterns in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode and generalized anxiety disorder over 24 months following a road traffic crash: Results from the UQ SuPPORT study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 236, 172-179.
Kim, Y., & Cannella Jr, A. A. (2008). Toward a social capital theory of director selection. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 16(4), 282-293.
Lauer, R. (2019). Is Social Ontology Prior to Social Scientific Methodology? Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 49(3), 171-189. https://doi.org/10.1177/0048393119840328
Ledwith, M. (2011). Community development: A critical approach (2nd ed.). Policy Press.
Linda, S. T. E. G. (2003). Can public transport compete with the private car? IATSS Research, 27(2), 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0386-1112(14)60141-2
Malta Today (2023). Man released on bail over Xemxija road rage incident. Retrieved from Man released on bail over Xemxija road rage incident (maltatoday.com.mt)
Moser, G., & Uzzell, D. (2003). Environmental Psychology. In Handbook of Psychology, I.B. Weiner (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/0471264385.wei0517
Newsbook (2021, June 25). Is traffic congestion driving us mad? Retrieved from https://newsbook.com.mt/en/is-traffic-congestion-driving-us-mad/
Pfeiffer, J. L., Pueschel, K., & Seifert, D. (2016). Interpersonal Violence in Road Rage: Cases from the Medico-Legal Center for Victims of Violence in Hamburg. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 39, 42-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2015.11.023
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.
Reiter, B. (2020). Fuzzy epistemology: Decolonizing the social sciences. Journal of Theory and Social Behavior, 50, 103-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/jtsb.12229
Rye, T., & Hrelja, R. (2020). Policies for reducing car traffic and their problematisation: Lessons from the mobility strategies of British, Dutch, German, and Swedish cities. Sustainability, 12(19), 8170. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198170
Sagalytics (2023). Final report: A Study about ‘The perceived effect of traffic on our wellbeing’ amongst the Maltese Population. Retrieved from https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/112592/1/A_study_about_%E2%80%98the_perceived_effect_of_traffic_on_our_wellbeing%E2%80%99_amongst_the_Maltese_population(2024).pdf?cv=1
Saliba, M. C. (2019). Determinants of automobile demand in the Maltese islands (Bachelor's dissertation).
Schleidt, W. M., & Shalter, M. D. (2003). Co-evolution of humans and canids. Evolution and Cognition, 9(1), 57-72.
Times of Malta (2022), March 18). Malta's population reaches 516,000, up 100,000 in 10 years Retrieved from https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltas-population-reaches-516000-up-100000-in-10-years.942378
The Malta Independent. (2023, February 14). TMID Editorial: Staggering traffic. Retrieved from https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-02-14/newspaper-leader/TMID-Editorial-Stagger-ing-traffic-6736249676
Transport Malta. Retrieved 12/4/23 from https://www.transport.gov.mt/transport-malta/about-us-848
Verbavatz, V., & Barthelemy, M. (2019). Critical factors for mitigating car traffic in cities. arXiv.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219559.
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future: The Brundtland Report. Oxford University Press.
Word Fact Book. Retrieved 9/4/2023 from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/
Zammit, A. (1986). Valletta and the system of human settlements in the Maltese Islands. Ekistics, 53(316/317), 89-95. JSTOR 43620704.
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2024-02-21
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