The Brussels region currently has two LiDARs (Light Detection and Ranging systems) to monitor speed. Het Nieuwsblad and Het Laatste Nieuws are both reporting on Friday that the Secretary of State for Road Safety, Bianca Debaets (CD&V), wishes to increase this number to six, so as to enable each police zone to have one.
The sharing of the two LiDARs between the various police zones often causes of delays to the process. A spokesman for Ms Debaets says, “With the two LiDARs currently available, we have to take account of sharing out their use between all of the six police zones. This is harmful to the system’s efficiency across all of the police zones.”
The regional government is to decide before Easter as to the hire of four additional LiDARs. The addition of LiDARs in Brussels must also respond to population demand.
The Secretary of State’s spokesman strongly argues, “Road safety is at the top of the list of priorities for Brusselers. We wish to do everything to clamp down hard on motorists as regards speed control. Brussels is not a paradise for reckless drivers whatever people say.”
In Brussels, during 2016 there were 32,169 cases of speeding recorded in zone 30. In the first quarter of 2017 alone, the figure had already reached 24,753 offences for zone 30.
The Brussels Times
