I am not against speed cameras, but it seems that the main reason for installing these cameras is to impose fines to get money out of our pockets.

Why do we not receive a warning on our first offence together with a note instructing us about the danger of over speeding, which jeopardises our safety and that of others, and not to do it again because we will be fined?

Furthermore, endangering our safety does not only include over speeding, but also the dangerous state of the roads we have in Malta. No other European countries have dangerous roads like we have in Malta, most of them not suitable for driving.

As soon as the ADT was set up, there was a hefty increase in all our road licences, as well as all the other things that have to do with the ADT.

We began to pay more, but the safety on our roads deteriorated.

What about parking spaces for our vehicles? Is our government doing its best to allocate enough space on our roads where we can park our cars?

To make matters worse, a local council came up with the idea of creating blue and green parking, thus preventing the normal driver from parking on these roads, which is totally illegal.

The local authorities know that this is illegal, but they continue to fine drivers, the only aim being to impose unjust fines on those who are afraid and go and pay these illegal fines.

I contested four illegal fines like these, and won them all.

Yes, I want to see more speed cameras, I want to see more safe driving, but before imposing these abnormal fines, do make the drivers more relaxed when driving by building roads that are safe with ample space for parking. After all this is what we expect from our local authorities.

Joseph Gaffarena

SANTA LUCIJA