Undisciplined drivers and revenues from traffic violations on the rise. An average growth of 8% in 2024, compared to the previous year, in the six largest municipalities of the Island, with fines that have guaranteed local administrations revenues for a total of over 10.7 million euros, from almost 4 and a half million in Cagliari to 762 thousand euros in Alghero.

The ranking

These are the data processed by Adiconsum Sardegna, which analyzed the reports presented by local authorities and published on the website of the Ministry of the Interior. "The municipality that has seen a real surge in traffic fines is Nuoro, whose revenues have risen in one year by almost 136%, going from 406 thousand euros in 2023 to 957 thousand euros in 2024", explains the president Giorgio Vargiu. "In the same period, Sassari has seen a growth in revenues guaranteed by fines of +36.4%, +6.8% Olbia. Cagliari, with its 4.34 million euros in revenues, ranks first for fines in Sardinia, followed by Olbia (2.4 million) and Sassari (1.5 million)." If we analyze the per capita value of the fines based on the number of inhabitants, Vargiu points out, «Cagliari is at the top of the list with an average of 40.7 euros per resident, followed by Olbia with 39 euros and Nuoro with 28.5 euros». Oristano 26 euros, Alghero 18; Sassari 12.5 euros.

Speeding too fast

Speed cameras alone have guaranteed a total revenue of over 640 thousand euros in 2024, Adiconsum notes. «But extending the look to other small Sardinian municipalities, we discover that last year Monastir has collected 1,303,617 euros thanks to speed cameras, Decimomannu 732,456 euros, Iglesias 463,528, Elmas 278,866 euros». On the subject of speed cameras, however, he warns, «things are about to change. By next June 12, local authorities will have to adapt to the new provisions introduced by the decree of the Ministry of Transport of April 11, 2024, which assigns prefects the task of identifying the stretches of road on which speed cameras can be installed: only on roads where there is a high accident rate, difficulty in proceeding with the immediate notification of the violation, and average vehicle speeds exceeding the permitted limits». Another new feature is the Observatory on traffic fines, which will help understand how municipalities spend the money collected through fines, resources that by law should go to road safety.

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