RADAR PREVENTS ACCIDENTS

The number of traffic accidents in the areas of Málaga province where radar machines have been installed has dropped by almost half since the machines came into use. A report into the accident rate issued by the Traffic Department shows that the number of crashes in these areas has dropped from an average of 5.8 a month in the second half of 2005 to 3.6 a month so far this year. The number of people injured has also dropped, as there were 12 cases of serious injury in the second half of 2005 and 13 in the whole of 2006. There has also been a reduction in the number of fines issued for speeding. The radar machines were installed in Málaga province in July 2005, and they are at km. 246 on the A-7 at Pinares de San Antón (El Palo), in the Málaga direction; At km. 165.7 on the A-45 Las Pedrizas road in the Málaga direction and close to the Ciudad Jardín exit; at kilometre 127.5 of the A-45 travelling north, on a long and dangerous downhill stretch; at kilometre 39 on the A-357 at the Zalea crossroads, at km 200.4 of the A-7 at La Butibamba in Mijas Costa; at kilometre 204.8 on the A-7 in Fuengirola in the Málaga direction, and at km. 154.2 of the A-7 in the Málaga direction at Parque Antena (between Benahavís and Estepona). Five more radar machines are also to be installed on Málaga's roads this year.