LISBON CÂMARA has given the green light for the introduction of 21 state-of-the-art speed traps to be set up around the city. The council has put the high technology radar project out for international competitive tendering with a budget of 2.5 million euros.
The system proposed is an automatic one to control both speed and traffic infringements. It will include luminous flashing lights that will alert motorists to restrictions from a distance of 300 metres, and is considered a preventative rather than a repressive control system. According to studies, most car accidents occur in built up urban areas. In 2005, in Lisbon alone, there were 12,000 car accidents, of which 46 proved fatal. Speeding and drink-driving were the worst culprits.
