I do not believe that speed cameras, especially the ones installed on the Regional Road, will improve safety. Study has shown that speed cameras distract drivers, cause panic braking, are a source to make a lot of money and further damage the police or local councils’ relationship with the public. With the installation of speed cameras, we now have an increasing number of traffic-jamming schemes masqueraded as junction improvements, traffic lights, speed humps and bus lanes.

I am not saying that I want to speed and you lot are trying to stop me! My concern, as is that of many other motorists, is with the “Big Brother” aspect of speed cameras, where the authorities are quite happy to fine motorists for speeding. I am simply highlighting an issue concerning ordinary people here.

Speed cameras may send the wrong messages regarding the concentration of speeding to the exclusion of everything else; such message as “I can go for a drink, get blind drunk, then drive home in an uninsured and dangerous vehicle and, as long as I don’t break the speed limit, I can get away with it!”

Any speed limit is arbitrary – it is a figure picked out of thin air. A speed limit does not mean a safe speed! Would you travel at 70mph on the Birkirkara by-pass in thick fog or a heavy rainfall? There’s more to road safety than speed!

Safe driving is too complex to be measured in miles per hour. Far too much emphasis is now placed on speeding and not enough is being done to combat other motoring offences such as dangerous driving.

Recent studies shows that driver inattention topped the list of accident causes, followed by poor lane changing and careless/reckless behaviour. Excess speed includes accidents where vehicles were travelling within the speed limit but too fast for the conditions.

In UK, the major causes of M4 crashes, 1999-2004 were:

Inattention – a factor in 28 per cent of crashes;

Failure to judge others’ path or speed (that is, poor lane changing) – a factor in 28 per cent of crashes;

Lack of judgement of own path – a factor in 17 per cent of crashes;

Fatigue – a factor in 14 per cent of crashes;

Careless, thoughtless or reckless behaviour – a factor in 14 per cent of crashes;

Excess speed – a factor in 14 per cent of crashes.

It has been recently reported that “it was likely that the current speed limit in force over the bridge (Regional Road) will be increased” and that “it was impossible to say whether speed cameras would be removed”, indicating over-eagerness to introduce speed cameras without conducting proper and adequate road traffic and geographical studies.

Martin Vella

Kalkara