Draft speed policy may lead to higher speed limits on arterial roads

Speed limits may be set to rise on arterial road in view of a proposed new policy by Transport Malta.

The consultation document entitled 'Speed management on Maltese Road - Policy and Technical Guidance Manual' has been published on the authority's website.

In terms of the draft, Transport Malta is proposing varied speed limits depending on the vehicle and type of road.

Vehicles under 3.5 tonnes would have a maximum speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour in built-up areas and 80 km per hour outside built up areas.

Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes would have a  speed limit of 40km/h in built-up areas and 60km/h outside, same as vehicles towing caravans and trailers.

There will be no speed limit for emergency vehicles and vehicles on priority duty.

The definition of a “built-up area” shall be decided on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the number of dwellings with direct access to the road, type and function of road and other safety considerations. Built-up areas would be appropriately signposted on all entry points.

The draft policy says that horse-drawn vehicles and heavy vehicles which have design speeds of less than 30 km/hr will be prohibited from using arterial roads.

Certain industrial, plant or agricultural vehicles such as Fork lift trucks and JCBs would be similarly banned on arterial and distributor roads.

The policy is proposing better enforcement of the use of the overtaking lane on certain dual carriageway roads.

The policy notes that speed is at the core of road safety. A road traffic accident takes place every 30 minutes on Maltese roads, on average, three people are hurt on the roads every day.

SPEED CAMERAS

The policy notes that the highest recorded speed offences at speed cameras are, in most cases, more than double the legal speed limit.

The majority of the highest speeds took place late at night and in the early morning. However, the recorded speed of a vehicle travelling 123 km/h through the residential area of Notary Zarb Street in Attard took place at a time when there were a lot of vulnerable users using the road, such as school children.

The policy recommends the setting up of an administrative and accreditation framework for mobile speed cameras.

It says further studies should be held on the potential for Average Speed Cameras on long stretches of road with few intersections (two to five kilometres) such as the Coast Road and Burmarrad Road.

TM would also formally permit the deployment of ‘dummy’ speed cameras in approved locations and the 10% tolerance for speed enforcement using cameras nationwide.

Sites for the installation, operation and/or removal of fixed and mobile speed cameras, shall be determined by TM based on objective reasoning.

The policy proposes a third tier of speed fines for drivers travelling 30km/h over
the posted speed limit with a pecuniary fine of not less than €500.

It examines the technical feasibility of extending the driving licence penalty point system currently applicable to new drivers with probationary driving licences, to cover drivers with standard licences.