There were 259,000 infringements caught on speed cameras in the first 11 months of 2005, Malta Transport Authority Chief Executive Gianfranco Selvaggi told The Malta Independent yesterday.
At Lm30 per ticket, this would amount to Lm777,000 in fines. The ADT receives around 16 per cent of total speed camera fines, which would amount to Lm120,000
Mr Selvaggi said that these will all be spent on a promotional campaign to increase the use of rear seat belts which has dropped quite alarmingly in the past year.
Speaking at a press conference to launch the “Safety First” campaign, Mr Selvaggi said that 17 people were killed in accidents in 2005, a rise of five over the 12 deaths registered in 2004. He said that the campaign targets all road users including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and also prospective drivers.
Mr Selvaggi said that there was a total of 14,056 fines given by wardens in relation to seat belt usage in 2005 while the figure for the first four months of 2006 was already 5,178.
He added that the percentage of rear seat belt users had gone down to 43 per cent in 2004, decreasing further to 26 per cent in 2006. These were extremely worrying figures, he pointed out.
The campaign consists of two televised spots and a systematic advertising blitz in newspapers, radio and other sections of the media.
Lm60,000 will be spent on the media campaign alone, Mr Selvaggi added.
Roads and Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett said that although Malta has the lowest ratio of traffic-related deaths per population (33 per one million), we still have to work hard to reduce this number as much as possible as each death is a human tragedy.
He said that the government is doing its part by building better and safer roads with newly-designed junctions and is taking other similar measures to improve the situation on our roads.
Minister Mugliett said that although unpopular, speed cameras have contributed to a drastic reduction in accident black spots such as the Mriehel Bypass.
He said that although the seat belt usage rate of drivers was quite high, at 97 per cent, the extremely low rates for rear seat passengers would hopefully be addressed by this campaign.
The minister said that leaflets would be distributed to explain the importance of rear seat belts and equipment for children who sit at the back of a car. Wardens will now be issuing a warning first and a fine against a second offence to initiate an educational campaign that will hopefully produce better results.
Vivian Corporation, importers of Chicco products, are also giving a 10 per cent discount on baby seats purchased from them up till the end of the year on presentation of the leaflet produced by the ADT.