Transport Malta has no immediate plans for new speed cameras on the recently-rebuilt Coast Road although signs covered in back plastic bags indicate otherwise.
A spokesman for Transport Malta told Times of Malta that “at the moment” it did not have any plans to install new speed cameras there.
Earlier this year, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said in Parliament the speed limit for the Coast Road would remain as it was before its reconstruction – 60km/h. However, the spokesman pointed out that, until minor works were finalised, the limit would be 40km/h, as indicated by the signage.
Asked whether Transport Malta was considering the installation of speed cameras in any other areas, the spokesman said the regulator was “investigating other measures to manage speeds”, adding that applications for new speed cameras would be assessed within this new framework.
The speed camera on the Coast Road on the way down to Splash and Fun is currently not functioning. Residents who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity questioned why there were no speed cameras planned for the Coast Road when the thoroughfare was being used as a racetrack, especially in the evenings and during the night. They said this was putting law-abiding drivers at serious risk of injury or even death.
Other residents noted the different speed limits for different stretches along the busy road.
“At one point it’s 40km/h, then the 40 goes to 70km/h and a couple of hundred metres further on it’s back to 40km/h,” one resident said.
According to the National Statistics Office, just over 62,000 motorists were booked for speeding in 2014. Figures for 2015 are not available yet.
There is a two-tier fine system for speeding offences. A violation of up to 15km/h will result in a fine of €34.93. The fine increases to €69.88 for those caught driving in excess of 15km/h over the speed limit.
According to the data, 52,083 motorists were driving up to 15km/h over the limit and 9,963 were going faster.
The busiest speed camera was the one in Nutar Zarb Street, Attard, which has a 50km/h limit. Almost 9,500 motorists were nabbed by this camera.
The second busiest was the speed camera on the Birkirkara bypass in the direction of Msida, which nabbed almost 8,000 motorists.
The total income from speed camera fines in 2014 was €2.3 million.
matthew.xuereb@timesofmalta.com