Let Speed Cameras be Set Up Where Speed Signs Are Visible

Zambia: THE Zambian Roads & Highway Safety Group (ZRHSG) has observed traffic cops setting speed traps for highway traffic in areas where speed limit signs are not visible or non-existent.

The Highway Safety Group also laments the failure of government road managers to post speed limit signs indicating the beginning and end of a specified speed limit.

The Road Safety Group is saddened that, rather than ensuring that motorists and highway users adhere to the set speed limits, Zambia Police Traffic officers are fond of establishing speed limits in areas where they know the speed limit signs are missing, have been removed, or are not visible to motorists, so they can speed.

According to the Road Safety Group, the traffic police's bad habit is purely theft and entrapment of drivers, so motorists are forced to pay these officers to be let off the hook.

the intention of the speed cameras was to ensure speed limit compliance, the Zambia Police traffic unit, in collaboration with the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), would first ensure that speed limit signs and warnings of the presence of speed cameras are erected and clearly visible to highway traffic and motorists.

The Highway Safety Group is hoping that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will become interested in these speed trap camera locations and where the money collected by these traffic cops is going.

The Auditor General's office should also be interested in how much revenue is collected at these speed camera locations and whether the monies collected benefit the government coffers.

To alleviate the stress of highway traffic having to adhere to these speed limits, the Highway Safety Group is once again urging the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the RTSA to ensure that speed limits set up on our roads include a start and end sign so motorists know how long they should drive at 80km per hour, for example, and when they can return to their preferred high speed to continue their long distance journeys.

The Road Safety Group also urges the RDA and RTSA to set realistic highway speed limits based on research and the average speed of vehicles passing through that stretch, making it easier for highway traffic to safely navigate that area while adhering to the speed limits.

Most speed limits on our highways are too low, ranging between 40 and 60 kilometres per hour, which is why there is always congestion on the busiest highways.

The Highway Safety group believes that if proper and visible speed limit signs are erected on our highways and painted on the roads, many Zambian motorists will comply with the set speed limits.