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