February 23, 2013Dear Sir,I refer to a former letter writer who suggested equipping the Transport Control Department’s aerial licence plate readers with speedometers.In the same way that cars with unlicensed tags trigger a photograph to be taken of the offending plate, the software could be adjusted to also capture the plates of cars driving beyond the 35mph speed limit.The speed tripping of the camera could be programmed to automatically signal that a self-sealing notice be mailed to the owner of the car advising them — based on mph overage — of the amount of fine they must pay. I suggest that up to the 15th of the month payment be due by month’s end and thereafter, the next month’s end.If such a scheme were introduced over a six-month trial period, the notices would advise the public to which fine they would have been subject had the system officially been operating.With the launch of the system, the fine would increase by a named percentage for each unpaid month, culminating in a total that would have to be paid prior to any re-registration of a car and/or renewal of a driver’s licence. The cars of flagrant offenders could be confiscated for a set period of time.I see numerous benefits here:1. Police would not have to respond to speeding violations. They would be free to concentrate on more serious crimes.2. Government would add funds to its coffers from fines that might otherwise go unpaid.3. As the party responsible for the fine, car owners would more vigorously monitor who drives their car and how it is driven.4. The public would slow down. This traffic calming would result in fewer road traffic accidents, injuries and deaths.5. Visitors would be less likely to lose control of their cycles due to speeding traffic. Collisions and cases of road rash would diminish.6. Pedestrians and joggers would more safely navigate the roads.7. Bermuda might become a role model for its handling of the issue and known for its resident and guest road user safety.This multidisciplinary approach by the Ministries of Tourism and Transport, Public Safety and Security, and Finance could signal one small step on the way to making this Island a better place for us all.B CANDACE RAYFlatts