Tony Mallia (February 27) thinks he knows better than local road experts. The recent spate in speed cameras is the latest weapon in an ever-expanding armoury the Transport Authority and local councils are amassing against the rational driver and his hard-earned money.
I am not against using such instruments to control reckless driving, but 60 km/h on major arteries is way too slow. We are already witnessing massive tailbacks as a result. The 80 km/h limit as per Highway Code is reasonable on straight stretches of roads.
An ADT "spokesman" tells us in The Times (February 17) that the limit was set according to the 85th percentile principle. In the very same article, they published 85th percentile findings on the particular roads (see right).
It is therefore abundantly clear that the ADT ignored their own findings in setting the ridiculous low limit.
The "spokesman" went on to state that "Malta's roads have experienced a growing rate of accidents". In another article (February 20), this table was published, which shows no "growing rate of accidents".
The spokesman is therefore contradicting himself. Everyone knows that many fatal accidents do not happen at 80 km/h but way beyond that.
He went on: "Our duty is to ensure the safety of pedestrians..." He should know better that bypasses were never designed for pedestrians.
The latter should shoulder their responsibility too. By crossing bypasses indiscriminately they are putting drivers at risk, other than themselves.
Speed cameras focus only on one risk factor and completely ignore all the others.
No accident is ever attributed to a sole factor but, rather, to a result of several factors combining together. Let's take the following examples.
Driver A is going along a bypass at 85 km/h. His mind is focused wholly on the road ahead. As such he is totally able to evaluate risk factors and to take necessary corrective action.
Driver B is driving along the same stretch at 45 km/h. His mental capacities are somehow limited (say, he is under influence of drink, chatting on his mobile phone etc). Thus, he is not in a position to assess risks, let alone take necessary corrective action in real time.
It is obvious which of the two is posing the greater risk. The speed camera however nabs A while B will get away scot free. Therefore, dependence on speed camera enforcement will give a dangerously false impression of safety on our roads.
Success in securing safety will be measured in terms of the number of prosecutions rather than in the control of abusive elements on our roads. And the vast majority of those prosecuted will be average drivers who were posing no risk at all. Not the boy racers and wannabe stuntmen. These will simply, and worryingly, take their dangerous habit elsewhere.
Since when have the ADT appointed themselves as guardians of our safety? Telling us that you should drive at a speed too low for a particular road is equivalent to some self-proclaimed moralist telling us we should not watch certain films or read certain books since their contents are damaging.
In the light of the above, it is abundantly clear that speed cameras set at low speeds are nothing but weapons of mass extortion against the rational driver.
Speed test results
[Location - 85th percentile speed]
Mdina Road, Qormi towards Valletta - 63 km/h
Mdina Road, Qormi towards Zebbuġ - 66 km/h
Birkirkara Bypass direction towards Valletta - 67 km/h
Birkirkara Bypass direction towards Birkirkara - 70 km/h
Sta Venera tunnels direction towards University - 73 km/h
Sta Venera tunnels direction towards Marsa - 73 km/h
Tal-Barrani Road direction towards Valletta - 80 km/h
Tal-Barrani Road direction towards Żejtun - 76 km/h