Speed camera in Attard street

It is with satisfaction to note that finally the authorities who have for the past 20-odd years been insensitive to the safety of the residents of Notary Zarb Street, Attard, and to the destruction of their properties, have come up with a partial solution: the installation of one speed camera.

Drivers who persist in overspeeding and who feel that they should be protected in their non-observance of the law have, as usual, aired their complaints.

Few people realise the inconvenience and danger that we residents have to put up with daily. Our lives have been blighted by round-the-clock noise, danger and pollution.

A plan to build a bypass has been given the cold shoulder even though millions of euros have been forthcoming!

The amount of traffic that goes by from the early hours of the morning - heavy vehicles, concrete mixers, 50-ft containers, cranes, etc. - have made the local condition unbearable. The street needs resurfacing as rattling machinery adds to the problem.

Cars are driven at excessive speed like on a racetrack, knocking down residents' front gardens, front gates and electricity pylons repeatedly. The façade of Attard Cemetry has had to have a crash barrier erected after it was knocked down several times. Further down the road, a resident has had his boundary wall demolished on at least three occasions. No sooner had it been rebuilt, than it was knocked down again - before the cement had time to set. Further down, the Tunisian Embassy suffered the same consequences.

Were it not for the installation of the speed camera, which to a certain extent limited the abuse (though admittedly one camera is not enough) we would have ended up needing crash barriers all along the road. All this, because drivers are undisciplined and ignore the speed limit.

Traffic accidents were a daily occurrence and more so at weekends. Unfortunately, drivers don't really think of the effect on peoples' lives. The situation is dangerous and totally disrespectful to the residents of the area.

One camera is not enough to deal with the overspeeding that goes on in opposite directions. It is impossible for the camera to function in such situations. If we really want to safeguard residents' lives and property, the authorities should implement the 45 km/h limit as was originally approved by the architect in charge and install a second camera. (In the UK the speed limit in such areas is 30-35 km/h).

UK authorities use a network of speed cameras. Instead of photographing speeding cars at just one shot - the network of cameras monitors them across the stretch of road. The system is designed to target speed surfers who slow down as they pass conventional cameras - then speed up again once they are out of reach.

It is impossible to outwit the technology by braking as the devices record each car's number plate and communicates through radio technology. Computers then calculate how fast the vehicle was travelling between the distances covered. The system's developer says the cameras should remove the need for speed bumps and other physical traffic calming measures.

The safety of the residents should be first and foremost. We have had four fatalities. How many more?