«A uniform national regulation for speed cameras? A mistake: it is up to the mayors to set the rules in their cities.” Alfonso Montellafull professor of Roads, Railways and Airports at the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department of the Federico II University of Naples, is against the strategy indicated by the government regarding road controls.
Professor Montella, why do you consider Minister Salvini’s idea of approving the speed camera legislation in the country a wrong choice?
«Given that the new regulatory hypothesis is not yet clear, I express my disagreement. Today the regulatory framework is very comprehensive. The Highway Code defines generalized speed limits and introduces the possibility of localized speed limits, which can be set by owner bodies on certain roads and sections of road when the application of generalized limits does not satisfy the safety requirements according to the criteria defined by a 2006 ministerial decree. The basic principle is that the choice of a localized speed limit requires an engineering study of details that takes into account the needs of mobility, safety and environmental impact”.
Professor Alfonso Montella (first on the right) at a recent meeting on road safety in Caiazzo
What is your opinion on speed limits in the city and in particular the 30 km per hour?
«The National Road Safety Plan 2030 proposes a clear identification of traffic at 50 km/h and of zones at 30 km/h. It is important to underline that zone 30 does not just mean the installation of a 30 km/h speed limit. To have a zone 30, a road environment is required in which the pedestrian has adequate space and the driver of any vehicle clearly understands that he is in a shared space with the pedestrian and feels the need for moderate speed. In summary, I agree with the creation of 30 zones as long as they are created as part of the implementation of urban sustainable mobility plans and include physical interventions to improve pedestrian and cycling mobility and make clear the presence of areas with a liveability function rather than transit.”
There is controversy over a government advert on safety in which people driving are portrayed without seatbelts, what do you think?
«It is a clear mistake and I am sure that very effective commercials will be created immediately. Raising awareness for road safety is really important and is part of the actions envisaged by the National Road Safety Plan 2030. In this regard I want to remember the film Young Europe made as part of the Inter-Cultural Approaches for Road Users Safety project created by the State Police of France, Ireland, Italy and Slovenia and available on YouTube or the education and awareness project Sii Saggio, Guida Sicuro aimed at students of secondary schools and universities and carried out in the Campania Region with the collaboration of the Region, the Anci, the Federico II, of the Meridiani Association and of all the law enforcement agencies.”
In a few days parliament will approve the new highway code, what is your overall opinion of it and what suggestions do you have for improving safety on the roads?
«First of all, I would propose to lower the general limit for secondary extra-urban roads and local extra-urban roads from 90 to 70 km/h. Then I would require compulsory helmets for cyclists and users of electric scooters. I would also improve the definition of safe distance by specifying, as is the case in the United Kingdom, that the distance between vehicles must never be less than the distance traveled in two seconds. Finally, for urban roads, I would allow the creation of roundabouts which are much safer than the traffic-lighted intersections currently permitted by the Code”.
What is your opinion on the Strait Bridge? Is it useful or could those investments be diverted to other priorities?
«I am extremely in favor. This is a development opportunity for the whole country. On the other hand, we have seen that in these fifteen years in which the country had taken a step backwards, there have been no significant investments in the South. I believe that the Bridge will be a driving force for a more general improvement in transport throughout the South.”