What was meant to be a new era for Rome, a ‘new age’ focused on enhanced road safety through reduced speed limits to 30 km/h in highly trafficked areas and strict police control, has once again been postponed. This marks the third delay since mid-January for the ‘Zone 30’ revolution. The latest setback is compounded by the mysterious absence of speed cameras, which were conspicuously missing yesterday, highlighting a persistent disconnect between political aspirations and practical implementation.
Rome’s Dual-Speed Administration: Mobility vs. Municipal Police
In the Campidoglio, particularly on the ‘Zone 30’ issue, the administration appears to be operating at two different speeds. On one hand, the Mobility Department, led by Councillor Eugenio Patanè, is pushing for rapid advancements in road safety. Patanè’s department has been a vocal proponent of initiatives ranging from bike lanes and black-point enforcement to smart traffic lights and, as of yesterday, speed cameras in the city center. The urgency is driven by the pressing need to address the high incidence of accidents on Rome’s streets.
On the other hand, there’s the more measured pace of the municipal police. Tasked with implementing these measures, the police force is reportedly understaffed and stretched thin, dedicating their limited resources to areas deemed most critical, such as the busy Colombo thoroughfare. Consequently, yesterday saw no deployment of speed cameras, despite the political decision being swiftly communicated via email to the wider public.
Growing Tensions Between Departments
This disparity in operational speed has created a short circuit, particularly evident yesterday morning, causing a breakdown in relations between the Mobility Department and the Municipal Police. The two entities, ideally, should be working in tandem. However, sources from the Mobility Department suggest that the police’s reluctance stems from their ‘annoyance with the measure.’ Conversely, the police accuse the Mobility Department of ‘selling the bear’s skin before catching it,’ implying premature announcements without adequate preparation.
These tensions have escalated to the point where the ‘speed cameras in Zone 30’ micro-dossier has landed on the desk of Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. He has since passed it to Albino Ruberti, the Director General of the Campidoglio, who is responsible for the city’s operational machinery. Patanè, despite his generally mild demeanor, is reportedly ‘furious’ about the situation.
Understaffed and Under-equipped: The Police’s Perspective
The Mayor and Director General, in direct communication with Municipal Police Commander Mario De Sclavis, are now tasked with resolving an issue that, for a few hours, offered a stark illustration of the gap between political theory and practical reality. The absence of speed cameras, despite repeated proclamations, is attributed to their ‘limited number’ and the scarcity of trained personnel required to operate them. A source within the police force revealed that speed cameras are typically deployed on roads frequently used as racetracks, like the Colombo, where fatalities are common, rather than for ‘revenue generation or showmanship.’
Essentially, the problem, while seemingly landing on Patanè’s shoulders, highlights a perennial issue: the police force is severely understaffed, with only 6,500 officers, a number clearly insufficient for a city the size of Rome. Furthermore, they lack an adequate supply of speed cameras to effectively implement the city’s political agenda.
Three Months On: No Progress
Ultimately, three months after the ‘Zone 30’ decree was launched in the Central ZTL, marking a significant policy shift, and following an announced ‘break-in period’ to allow citizens to adjust, residents and commuters in the city center remain perplexed. They had anticipated a deluge of speed cameras and a flurry of flashes, signaling impending fines on the busy streets from Termini to the Vatican. They expected patrols armed with speed guns on stretches like Via del Teatro di Marcello-Via Petroselli or at the end of the Umberto I Tunnel – areas notorious for reckless driving. These were the very locations where checkpoints and digital surveillance were promised to catch speeding motorists.
Silent Cameras and Surprised Romans
Instead, none of this materialized. The digital eyes remained closed yesterday morning, and controls were limited to the usual visual surveillance. Romans, often frustrated or resigned to the perpetual traffic congestion that characterizes the city, were left bewildered, a mix of disappointment and amusement. They noted that they wouldn’t have risked any fines anyway, given that the average speed in the city center is a mere 17 km/h, quipping, ‘If only we could drive at 30, the problem is we can’t even move here.’ Sometimes, however, the municipal administration operates at double speed.
This ongoing saga underscores a critical challenge for Rome: bridging the gap between ambitious policy announcements and their effective, on-the-ground implementation. The ‘Zone 30’ initiative, while well-intentioned, has become a symbol of the city’s struggle to translate political will into tangible results, leaving residents to wonder when, or if, the promised transformation will ever truly take hold.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_marzo_17/zona-30-a-roma-nessun-autovelox-un-altro-rinvio-scoppia-il-caso-tra-vigili-e-campidoglio-c9e9db42-5ad3-4d43-9732-46e799869xlk.shtml
