Speed traps, Murder stats up! Syringe crime, Road accident reductions, & other snippets
TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … Cafe Cristo Rei, over Garajau way I think.
Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 27/7/2008
The police force of Madeira only have 6 radars and 8 trained officers that can identify and deal with speeding on our roads. 3 of the radars are in fixed locations. A spokesman says that over the last 6 years, the traffic division has lost 25% of its budget. Nevertheless, the number of detections is growing, with the offences recorded rising from 716 to 1,074 between 2006 and 2007. This year so far 957 speeding vehicles have been identified, 953 of which have been exceeding the limit by 20km per hour or more. Another problem is evident with transporting children, where in only 74% of the cases analysed children were adequately restrained inside the vehicle. Only 5 cars a day stopped for speeding, that’s incredible. It’s better than the 2 cars a day in 2006, but there is a long way to go in establishing identification of speeding drivers as an effective deterrent. The newspaper publishes an illustration showing the 17 most dangerous spots on the motorway, you can see it at the bottom of the page:
http://www.dnoticias.pt/Default.aspx?file_id=dn04010209270708
Murder on Madeira is on the up! Over the last 10 years or so, the average was about one a month, but in 2007 it was only 9. This year so far there have already been 10. Normally the crimes are not premeditated, and often involve excess consumption of alcohol.
The regional government has decided to put the Madeira Tecnopólo conference and fairs centre into private management, basically because independent management would be better for use and profitability. Public tendering will be used to find a suitable management company.
A proposal has been made to provide regular programmed entertainment in St. Catherine’s (sta. Catarina) park in Funchal. The proposal includes the erection of a permanent structure to allow concerts of various types. Nice idea, but I thought President Jardim said the government didn’t have any money?
Other News :
After a long absence of reported ‘syringe crimes’, a new one happened in a supermarket in Imaculado Coração de Maria. The thief went into the ‘Supermercado Regional’ stole 4 packets of shaving blades, threatened a member of staff with his syringe, and then fled the shop pursued by local(s) until the police arrived and arrested him.
High ultra violet sun warnings around again at the moment, so eye and skin protection is recommended between 10am and 5pm.
The Diario reader participation section on the website is attracting plenty of letters and suggestions in response to what can be done to reduce road accident deaths. One writer suggests that accidents in general are due to a lack of education and respect for others, and suggests that people need to organise their lives better. Another suggests police signs telling drivers to slow down, and more police stop operations at weekends and at nights to control drink driving. Another suggests that the use of mobile phones whilst driving causes danger and with little police enforcement. Another suggests limit the CC of the vehicles used on Madeira, and has the only suggestion certain to work … close all the roads.
Bit of a ‘thin’ newspaper, so that’s it for the day.
Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog comments page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!
Re; EasyJet Flights. Following a newspaper report showing reduction in profits it stated that a 12% cut in Stansted flights would be absorbed into the newly aquired GB airways from Gatwick. The new Winter schedule generally shows Madeira would be serviced from Stansted on Mon,Thurs,Fri and Sunday and from Gatwick on Mon,Wed,Fri, and Saturday.So apart from Tuesday, still a good service in general
1–Don
Not sure it's a particularly good service, Don – it is little different from what BA were doing 2 years ago. It's a bit disappointing after what we've had for the last 9 months. Headline prices look okay for the future, but you try booking something in September. They'll soon make TAP look cheap!
2–Andrew
Andrew, When I speak of good service I refer to availablity comparing with the 80's when charters were Mon & Wed with the only option being TAP/BA at scheduled prices which makes todays prices quite reasonable. Sadly with the current economic situation I can only foresee prices going up whichever airline.
3–Don
Andrew, When I speak of good service I refer to availablity comparing with the 80's when charters were Mon & Wed with the only option being TAP/BA at scheduled prices which makes todays prices quite reasonable. Sadly with the current economic situation I can only foresee prices going up whichever airline.
4–Don
Easyjet said after announcing the operating losses today say they won't increase prices … but how will we know if they do as they vary so much anyway
5–Der
From what I understand on today's telly news, Ryanair are posting their first ever loss this quarter and have pre bought fuel based on $125 per barrel for several months ahead. easy jet have said they will like ryanair mothball some winter flights and close some destinations. They both say prices of flights will remain as they are at present, however the add ons such as baggage, coffee, cheese sandwich and the like which are their only sources of profit, will go up substantally to cover the fanatastic cost of fuel.
6–Martin
the food and drinks are already well overpriced, so I don't know if people are daft enough to pay more
7–Der
i would have to be desperate to pay their refreshment price.always take our own.
–Vic
8trouble is you can't take drinks through now though. And, if you buy them after security checks they are about 50% more expensive than they are in check-in zone
9–Der