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Speed camera policy still in limbo
Speed camera policy for Transport Malta ‘finalised’ in April but not yet published.
5 December 2011, 12:00am
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
Between 2003 and 2008, local wardens and speed cameras altogether issued a total of 1.6 million tickets with a value of 56 million.
A speed camera policy that was expected to be published last May has been postponed to next year.
In April, Transport Minister Austin Gatt told MPs in parliament that a speed camera policy had been finalised and would be published within the coming weeks.
Answering a question by Nationalist MP and former transport minister Censu Galea, Gatt this week said the policy will be published next year.
A total of 11 speed camera installed on Maltese roads, namely on Regional Road in St Julian's, the Imriehel bypass in Qormi, Mdina Road in Zebbug, Notary Zarb street in Attard, Burmarrad Road in St Paul's Bay, Hal Far road in Birzebbuga, and on St Andrew's Road in Pembroke.
The new speed camera policy will establish the criteria and methodology adopted by Transport Malta for the installation of speed cameras in the roads.
Between 2003 and 2008, local wardens and speed cameras altogether issued a total of 1.6 million tickets with a value of €56 million. But this figure in itself is misleading, because the actual number of tickets paid was much lower, with only €39 million being received by local councils - leaving well over 25% of unpaid tickets as potential bad debts.
During these five years, the system cost some €23 million to run. Of this total, €19 million represented the costs for warden services and Datatrak's IT services. The warden firms, mainly Guard & Warden and Sterling Security (but another firm, Aurelia Asset Protection also provided services for two council regions) took 53%. Datatrak took 31%. The rest went to other direct costs.
Statistical data shows that the cameras have brought about a decline in speeding offences and other contraventions, with the resultant effect on revenue. Wardens' tickets have decreased by 17% since 2006 across all Malta and Gozo, corresponding to a decline in annual revenue from €5 million in 2006, to €4.2 million in 2010.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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Speed cameras should NOT be advertised of their whereabouts- as done in the U.S. and the U.K. where speed traps are invisible until the trap is sprung.
Mobile (and unadvertised) speed traps SHOULD be set in residential areas where the majority of drivers treat the statutory speed limits with utter comtempt.
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Mhux ovvja!
Otherwise how could they become rich overnight?
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Will this policy include guidelines as to how much lower than normal the speed limit can be reduced wherever a speed camera is introduced in order to maximise revenue?
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Speed Cameras are in reality a fake. We are used to them by now. Drivers speed until they see the camera sign, they slow down and probab;y swear. When they pass it speed will increase again. I suggest that a hidden camera / policemen will be placed in the Regional road tunnel, rounabouts, stop signs/giveway signs and see how many drivers abuse the system. Under the Regional Road tunnels, light aren't lit, crossing from one lane to another, buses, trucks and other heavy plant machinery driving on the outer lane for long distances. Zebra crossing is another example, and arriva buses not stopping on red lights.
A rebus on the Maltese Roads. One good things is that Maltese Drivers are some of the best to avoid accidents but they still need discipline on the roads.
