Reuben Gauci, Valletta
Roads dying for a speed camera
Speed cameras have managed to make roads relatively safer, where they have been installed. Unfortunately, speed cameras are the only language certain drivers understand, especially when bills start making their way through their letter box.
The irony of speed cameras is that they have pushed maniacs to other roads where they have become conspicuously absent. Most of the roads targeted by speed maniacs have now become residential areas which in their view have an innate capacity for speeding. St Joseph Street in Hamrun is a typical example (with apologies for the many other roads that are experiencing the same fate).
There are many roads dying for a speed camera, lest more traffic-related deaths are to occur in the future. Local councils should identify such roads and ask whoever is responsible to install a speed camera.
Non-residential roads which already have a speed camera, the likes of the Bahar ic-Caghaq Coast Road, (the reason for picking on such a road is obvious enough), should have multiple cameras installed at various points. This way the likelihood of sudden braking because of an approaching speed camera is diminished and over speeding is controlled all the way (hopefully!).
I strongly believe that education works on the majority of people, but it is the absolute minority which causes the majority of problems. More speed cameras are obviously not the solution to all traffic-related problems but I am sure that if the penalties are just (like loss of driving licence), more speed cameras can help eradicate a few more maniacs from our streets, maybe for good. Remember, it only takes one maniac, over-speeding only once, to part anyone from his family forever!
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lgalea
Aug 16th 2009, 09:34
Reuben Gauci
More speed cameras?
Speed limits purposely made to trap drivers?
Safety?
Are you living in cuckoo land?
"but it is the absolute minority which causes the majority of problems."
So if it's a minority, why should the majority suffer?
Why don't you suggest that they also install speed cameras in bedrooms to check that no one over-speeds Reuben?
J Fenech
Aug 15th 2009, 21:17
As if we don't have enough of these one-eyed highway robbers already! And the irony is that they are placed in stretches of road which are least risky due to being arrow-straight. And set at crawling limits. I agree that they should be relocated to built up areas. None are to be seen except one. That's where the risk increases substantially.
And its untrue that they actually reduce accidents. If official statistics in Britain are anything to go by, it is quite the contrary.
http://www.abd.org.uk/road_fatalities.htm
What about more police presence on the roads? Especially at popular nightspots in the weekend? - statistically that's when most nasty accidents happen. And forbid people who drank from taking the wheel at all. THAT is how to reduce accidents, not by targeting everyone across the board. Is road safety being measured in terms of number of clicks or by the control and outright removal of abusive elements in our roads?
Deo Catania
Aug 15th 2009, 19:24
Same old story, lots of ppl begging for more speed cameras. Speed cameras should only be installed in busy streets near churces, schools and the like not in the middle of nowhere!!!!! You find a speed camera just as you exit a tunnel.....very good locations for authorities to grab money. Everyone exiting the tunne; will slow down at once and the risk of an accident in the tunnel gets high, then the traffic will continue to be super slow in roads where no pedestrians can be seen. a 15min trip will take ages 'cos of the stupid persons who decided where to install these nonsense cameras.
C Cassar
Aug 15th 2009, 16:25
Speed cameras do not prevent accidents, they do the opposite. This has now been accepted i the UK with Swindon borough council remove all of it's spped cameras and now Bournemouth planning to do the same.
What is needed is for the police in Malta to actually book and prosecute drivers when they see illegal driving manoeuvres instead of turning a blind eye, as is the case today.
In 5 years I have yest to see a mobile police speed trap anywhere in Malta. Where are they? What about the Coast Road - a perfect location.
There needs to be blitzes of 2-3 days where zero tolerence is teh order of the day. That's the only way to 'fastpath' the importance and education of good driving habits in Malta.
Additionally, random roadblocks after midnight on many roads, especially in the Paceville/St Julians/Sliema areas where drivers are breathalysed. From my experience, most people who drive to Paceville are drinking alcohol in an evening. That is simply not acceptable, so again police - what are you doing about this? It's very simple and obvious where these breaches of the law are taking place.
john fenech
Aug 15th 2009, 14:59
A speed camera on its own will reduce abuse in the camera’s detection zone only. Efficient road networks and intelligent traffic control is the requisite solution so often hyped and promised but not delivered!
A maniac by definition is beyond preventive cure only punitive action will remove this hazard from our roads. Therefore, we are in dire need of the boys in blue to bring law and order on our roads. To discipline those who drive under the influence of illegal substance. Overtaking on the wrong side of the road, because queuing is for others. Driving one handed while the other hand is either dangling for oxygen or holding the mobile to the ear. Having an animated discussion with the other three passengers. Double parking, of course with the hazard lights on, forcing the other traffic to overtake on the wrong side. For those that assume that, stop and give way signs, are intended for others to observe or else will stop with half the vehicle over the stop line!
Let us have the much-publicised cameras installed at the traffic lights, and educate/enforce the approach rule when the lights are at amber!
M Eloff
Aug 15th 2009, 13:58
I really hope that Speed Cameras get put up in the stretch of Tower Road between Exiles and Surfside. I have been living in that vicinity for a year and a half now and seen 7 accidents and 1 person get knocked over by a car at a pedestrian crossing despite the big lights that flash warning motorists to slow down.
Not only are there "pimped" out rides with so much bass, even my brand new double glazing cant block it out, but the amount BUSES that speed on that stretch.
I say either speed cameras every 20 meters controlling the speed to at most, 40km/h or Speed Humps (Sleeping Policeman) get built. That's one way to stop those low profile cars from there speedy ways.
Thanks for writing this letter Reuben, I have been meaning to write something similar for months now!
Joe Vella
Aug 15th 2009, 12:21
@ Ramon Casha
Totally agree with what you had to say. The only thing I would like to point out is that in my opinion, Cameras have been placed at strategic points approaching section of roads where tragic accidents have happened in the past ;more often more then one tragic accident.
I think the main purpose for the speed cameras is to reduce speeds approaching section of roads to be prone of accidents.
Ramon Casha
Aug 15th 2009, 12:05
Is it possible that you've never observed the behaviour of drivers wherever there are speed cameras? They drive at full speed, brake suddenly and slow down for a few dozen meters just ahead of the cameras (usually to 10-20km/h below the speed limit), then speed up again. In the past year, two particularly bad accidents happened right where new speed cameras were installed. Unless speed cameras are installed less than 20 meters apart, they will be ineffective as far as road safety is concerned, and can even contribute to increased accidents.
Not only that, but what about the actual speed limits? Try popping over to Naxxar and check out the 5 km/h speed limit around the parish church there. See if you can physically drive at that speed.
First we have to start with intelligent speed limits, then add the speed cameras if necessary. However if you're really concerned about road safety, the road surface must come first. It seems that our roads are divided between an obstacle course of potholes, or roads so smooth there's very little grip.
Matthew Borg Cardona
Aug 15th 2009, 11:47
I hope one is installed on the Mosta-Mgarr road and the Rabat road.