Speed cameras not living up to financial expectations?
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
18.09.2013 11:31
New speed cameras, which were installed throughout Poland over the last year, will not bring in nearly as much revenue as expected, with the government forecast seemingly miles off target.
Photo: sxc.hu
New estimates point to revenue from fines at 86 million zloty (21.5 million euro) in 2013, a far cry from the government’s prediction of 1.5 billion zloty in fines this year.
Until the end of July, revenue from fines had only reached 50 million zloty, which prompted changes to the budget, lowering expectations to 86 million zloty in fines for 2013.
The poor result for the finance ministry begs the question whether Polish drivers have started to drive more safely on the country’s roads.
“No, it’s the effect of poor planning and a flawed approach of national services towards the issue of road safety,” claims Michal Beim, a transport expert at the Sobieski Institute.
“Rather than change the speed limits to the type of roads, the government pushed forward on a speed camera campaign which only discouraged drivers from adhering to the law,” Beim states, adding that “instead of driving safely, [motorists] see a speed camera, suddenly brake before it, then once they pass it they speed up again.” (jb)
Source: Puls Biznesu