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