Safe Speed Forums

‘No complaints on speed cameras at accident black spots’ – road expert
by Annaliza Borg
“No one would complain against a speed camera if it is installed at an accident black spot,” Hugh Arnett, a road expert told The Malta Independent.
Mr Arnett was referring to the newly installed speed camera at St Paul’s Bay by-pass.
This was installed at a perfectly straight stretch of road where drivers used to enjoy speeds of 80 and 100 kilometres per hour.

The new speed camera, installed just past the dangerous bends, makes drivers slow down. Once past the camera, they speed again as they approach the roundabout.
“I was test driving a car there last week at about 140 kilometres per hour and it was perfectly safe,” Mr Arnett said.

The camera should be at the bends where accidents occur, he said. Likewise, Mr Arnett believed that a speed camera on the opposite carriage way, that is from Burmarrad in the direction of Xemxija, should be installed at the bridge where it is dangerous to drive at 50 or 60 kilometres per hour.
The camera’s current location is “disgusting”. It is a “purely money making machine,” for which the Malta Transport Authority’s (ADT) traffic management section should respond.
Other drivers argued that the speed camera should have been installed some 400 metres away from Erba Mwiezeb roundabout, where a fatal accident occurred in December.
People drive in a state of rage, Mr Arnett noted. Inexperienced drivers then act in a silly way because they see others driving negligently. Education is necessary on the matter, Mr Arnett said.
When contacted, court expert Joseph Micallef Stafrace emphasised on the need of ongoing education.
“We tend to panic after a serious road accident but the fury soon dies down until another accident happens,” he said.

Meanwhile, ADT did not reply to a set of questions sent a week ago, specifically on 11 January. When contacted for an explanation, a spokesperson said the authority was busy processing other requests according to when they were received. However last Wednesday, TMID received replies to questions sent to the same authority just the day before.
Currently speed limit signs at St Paul’s Bay bypass are conflicting and a 50 km/h sign is followed by a 60km/h sign at the bends. This is quite a stretch away from the speed camera. Meanwhile, signs on the opposite carriage way call for the national speed limit (80km/h to be observed). No speed limit signs exist at the dangerous parts.
This newspaper also questioned ADT for not installing speed limit signs or cameras when the road was opened, if this road is considered dangerous.
Questions about whether ADT intends to install a camera on the opposite carriage way, speed camera signs, and when the camera will be in operation, were not replied.

The camera should be at the bends where accidents occur, he said. Likewise, Mr Arnett believed that a speed camera on the opposite carriage way, that is from Burmarrad in the direction of Xemxija, should be installed at the bridge where it is dangerous to drive at 50 or 60 kilometres per hour.
The camera’s current location is “disgusting”. It is a “purely money making machine,” for which the Malta Transport Authority’s (ADT) traffic management section should respond.
Other drivers argued that the speed camera should have been installed some 400 metres away from Erba Mwiezeb roundabout, where a fatal accident occurred in December.

People drive in a state of rage, Mr Arnett noted. Inexperienced drivers then act in a silly way because they see others driving negligently. Education is necessary on the matter, Mr Arnett said.
When contacted, court expert Joseph Micallef Stafrace emphasised on the need of ongoing education.