Updated - Adds Transport Malta statement, speed limit set at 80km/h - Speed cameras are being set up at the St Paul's Bay bypass, immediately sparking a Facebook petition for their removal.
Transport Malta said it had given its go ahead to the the Local Councils Regional Committee (Northern region) to install the cameras in order to curb excessive speed that had become a regular occurrence at this site.
"The committee had been advocating the installation of such cameras as residents have complained of inconvenience related to excessive speeding. The Authority has also taken onboard strong recommendations made during a recent traffic sitting judgement presided by Magistrate Dr. Francesco Depasquale, who urged the Authority to consider the installation of a speed camera to curb overspeeding abuses along San Pawl il-Bahar By Pass. Road accident statistics collated by the Police and Transport Malta for the area also confirm that the bypass has witnessed quite a number of accidents, some of which fatal, due to overspeeding," TM said.
The cameras are believed to be the first to be installed by Transport Malta under the new government. Signs indicating the speed limit had been set up by this morning. Timesofmalta was told, however, that the speed limit is 80km/h.
There was debate in 2010 about whether cameras should be set up on bypass roads, which are not residential and are aimed at easing traffic flows, and no further cameras were installed until a policy was finalised.
St Paul's Bay bypass has been the scene of some major accidents due to speeding, particularly by motorcyclists at weekends. A speed camera was installed in 2009, but it was vandalised before it became operational.
In 2012 a study found that although although four out of every 10 respondents were not satisfied with the local wardens system, the overwhelming majority was in favour of speed cameras. The study had been commissioned by the Local Councils Association and involved 1,000 respondents.
In September last year, then Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella told parliament that the Regional Committee for the North had submitted applications to Transport Malta for the installation of speed cameras in Mellieha and Naxxar.
In July last year, people who live near St Paul's Bay bypass called for the installation of speed cameras and told Times of Malta that the road had become dangerous and was being used as an illegal racetrack.
“We are fed up. Loud noise from speeding vehicles all night has become the norm. They race up and down, it happens nearly every day now,” a frustrated had resident said.