| It was inevitable wasn't it? The | | | | control - even if they are breaking the |
| introduction of speed cameras on ski | | | | law! The problem is often other people |
| slopes. Is it the thoughtlessness of a | | | | on the roads (or pistes). If you come up |
| handful of daredevil speed demons that | | | | behind someone going slow on the road |
| have messed up the fun for the rest of | | | | (or piste) and want to overtake them it |
| us? Or is this health and safety gone | | | | is always potentially hazardous. You |
| crazy again? Have we as a human race | | | | just can't know what the other person is |
| become so irresponsible that we need the | | | | going to do. You also don't know if |
| Nanny State to protect us from ourselves | | | | another car is going to pull out of an |
| even when we're out trying to spend our | | | | unseen side road (or out of the trees), |
| hard-earned cash on holiday and having a | | | | or a deer (or snow machine) will |
| little fun? Well, sadly the statistics | | | | suddenly appear in front of you. The |
| are not good. With the high number of | | | | drink driving laws have just about taken |
| accidents, injuries and deaths at ski | | | | all the drunks off our roads, but on the |
| resorts throughout the world every year, | | | | slopes you are still likely to come |
| it does seem that something has to be | | | | across someone who's partaken of a bit |
| done. The number of skiing accidents has | | | | too much Gluhwein during their lunch |
| noticeably increased in Switzerland | | | | stop. No one stops them strapping on the |
| alone, with accidents in the tens of | | | | skis or board and potentially |
| thousands last year, many of which were | | | | endangering the lives of others. Then |
| fatal or caused serious injuries. The | | | | there are the novices skiing out of |
| number of helicopter rescues also | | | | control on slopes beyond their |
| increased - to the tune of hundreds in | | | | abilities. Skiing in flat light can also |
| just one month. So, the Swiss have had | | | | be dangerous, no matter how experienced |
| enough and are putting speed cameras on | | | | you are. You can't see all the bumps and |
| the slopes. Ski personnel will catch the | | | | dips in the terrain - or the icy spots - |
| speeders with hand-held radar gadgets. | | | | and if you hit them at great speed you |
| Those who are caught are given a warning | | | | may find yourself heading for a tree or |
| first, and then could face a fine or | | | | another skier, and there's nothing you |
| confiscation of their ski pass. The | | | | can do to stop that impact from |
| cameras are in operation at Andermatt | | | | happening. It could be expensive at |
| and will also be in operation at other | | | | best. Tests using dummies have been |
| major resorts like Davos, St. Moritz and | | | | carried out (like the ones they do with |
| Zermatt. Some may applaud Switzerland | | | | cars). It was shown that speeds above 19 |
| for taking a stand - but will this new | | | | mph (30km/h) are unsafe. Speeds much |
| trend catch on in ski resorts throughout | | | | above that figure are highly likely to |
| the world? In a perfect world, we'd all | | | | cause fatalities if something goes |
| be at liberty to hurl ourselves down the | | | | wrong. So will speed cameras on slopes |
| slopes and not have to worry about | | | | be a trend that is likely to spread |
| anyone else. We'd never get hurt or | | | | throughout the world at all ski resorts? |
| killed or injure another innocent | | | | For many it will take all the fun, |
| person. It is because we don't have this | | | | excitement and thrill out of it. Will |
| ability that anyone who sets off on a | | | | speedometers on skis be the next trend? |
| ski trip without taking out travel | | | | How else can we monitor our speed or |
| insurance and winter sports coverage | | | | have any idea how fast we're going? Will |
| should have their head tested. If you're | | | | there be speed limit signs posted at the |
| not aware of the potential astronomical | | | | sides of the ski runs that we have to |
| medical expenses associated with | | | | obey, as on the roads? Speed is not the |
| helicopter rescues, serious injuries and | | | | only danger when out skiing. This ski |
| broken limbs (especially in North | | | | season twenty-six people have been |
| America) then it's time for a wake up | | | | killed by avalanches in Europe in less |
| call! The beautifully groomed pistes may | | | | than one month! The average annual |
| be partly to blame. It's hard to resist | | | | number of people killed in avalanches in |
| pointing the board or tips down the hill | | | | the U.S. is around twenty-five, but |
| and just going for it. But on crowded | | | | often much higher. Other weather-related |
| slopes it just isn't smart. There's no | | | | hazards cannot be ignored, such as |
| question that skiing and snowboarding | | | | blizzards and sudden changes in the |
| and other winter sport activities can be | | | | weather and conditions. Who would have |
| very dangerous. If you've ever had a run | | | | thought we'd see the day they put speed |
| in with a tree, or another skier and | | | | cameras on ski slopes. What's next? Ski |
| survived it you will already know what a | | | | insurance and winter sports coverage is |
| painful impact it can be. Just as on the | | | | not mandatory, but perhaps it should |
| roads, we can't always blame the people | | | | be... |
| driving at high speeds. It is possible | | | | Jean Andrews is a freelance writer |
| they are totally competent and in | | | | living in the UK. |