Forget about “Zone 30”, in the capital of Sardinia there is not even a single speed camera in operation. Drivers who mistake the Asse Mediano, Viale Poetto and Via Vesalio (just to name a few) for Formula 1 tracks are sure to get away with it. The infamous camera no longer captures the cars, which in some cases have reached almost 200 kilometers per hour. Even the service entrusted to the local police, in fact, has been blocked, like that of all Italian cities, by the sentences of the Court of Cassation which, accepting the appeals on the interpretation of the highway code, has in fact rejected the provisions of the Ministry of Infrastructure on the approval of speed detectors.
Full throttle
Speed control in Cagliari is entrusted to the Local Police. Until recently, the instruments used by the officers were two: a fixed one, in the Asse mediano at the height of the junction for Quartu and Genneruxi, the other mobile which, according to a predefined schedule, was installed on the most dangerous arteries, with a patrol alongside. For some time, however, the two instruments have been unusable because the Court of Cassation has established that only speed cameras approved after June 13, 2017 can issue fines. On the basis of this ruling, thousands of appeals have arrived to request the cancellation of fines. This is why the Local Police, as in all other Municipalities in Italy, decided (on April 29, 2024, with the station in via Lungo Saline) to interrupt the activity which, it is worth remembering, continues on extra-urban roads thanks to the activity of the Traffic Police. "We are providing, as requested by the Ministry, a series of data to the Prefecture", says Gesuina Olmetto, spokesperson for the Local Police. «The timing does not depend on us, but as soon as the directives on how to behave in the face of disputes arrive from Rome, we are ready to put the instrument that detects speed back into operation».
Surprise effect
"Currently, no speed cameras are active in Cagliari due to a regulatory gap," confirms Yuri Marcialis, municipal councilor for Mobility. "This situation has generated uncertainty and controversy even at a national level. Despite this, the municipal administration has commissioned an external company to collect speed data on some city streets. The results obtained were transmitted to the Prefecture, as required by current legislation."
For the future, the Municipality and the Local Police want to play on the surprise effect with several fixed stations installed on the asphalt or on lampposts. They will have to act as deterrents and thus increase safety by leveraging the psychological factor. In fact, they will be "empty boxes" that will not record speed. Every day or every week, a speed camera will be installed that will report those who do not respect the speed limits: how many there will be and in which points, will be established from time to time. Surprise effect, motorists will never know which will be working and which will not. "This is the "Velocity" project - adds Councilor Marcialis - which involves the installation of highly visible columns in strategic points of the city. These columns will act as a deterrent and, in rotation, will host speed camera devices. At the moment, we are waiting for the necessary authorizations to proceed with the activation of the system. Our goal is to guarantee safety through transparent measures that comply with the regulations, avoiding any form of improper use of speed detection instruments".
Andrea Artizzu
