Poor old Palma. Its only claim to fame is having more humps on two kilometres than a camel race in full swing. Now that the authorities have turned their backs on humps, motorists are guaranteed not to get seasickness on any other Mauritian road.

The growing unpopularity of road humps is a worldwide phenomenon. First seen as an easy and cheap deterrent to speeding, they soon became a nuisance. A study conducted by the London Assembly reveals that humps annoy drivers, damage vehicles and may cost lives.

The London Ambulance Service claims up to 500 people die in instances where emergency vehicles are slowed by speed humps or because the journey is too bumpy for staff to administer the necessary treatment. The Metropolitan Police says response times are affected and humps can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to vehicles.

Their effectiveness is also in doubt: they inadvertently result in drivers speeding up between humps and do little to deter persistent offenders. Even if they drive over at full throttle, they are not punished.

The existing humps on Mauritian roads will not be removed but the government is under pressure to find new measures to curb speeding - a driving offence that often kills. Speed cameras are being touted as a option. London is already leading the charge for the replacement of humps by cameras.

?We should have speed cameras in every residential neighbourhood so we can fine people going too fast and don?t inconvenience those obeying the speed limits,? said Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Speed cameras have been a hit in Britain ever since their introduction in the 1990?s. Highway Agency figures reveal that cameras in London cut fatal accidents by 70% and saved £20 million a year in accident costs after their installation.

?Most people are hit by vehicles in residential areas where you are most likely to find vulnerable groups like youngsters, the elderly and cyclists. All the evidence shows that speed cameras can be very effective in reducing the number of casualties,? said Cathy Keeler, policy manager for the road safety group Brake.

Today, about 4500 of the yellow boxes dot the motorists? landscape across Britain and they are expected to document speeding by at least three million drivers, each facing an automatic fine of £ 60 (Rs 3000) plus a three points deduction off the driving licence. Persistent offenders can be banned from driving.

<B>Ultimate moneymaking</B>

Britain now has the biggest network of speed cameras in Europe. The Department for Transport is basking in the glory of its success. A recent report vindicates its decision to install 1500 more cameras across the UK. Deaths and serious injuries fell by 35 per cent while the number of vehicles speeding dropped by 67 per cent on roads where speed cameras have been in operation.

?Speed cameras are working. Speeds are down and so are deaths and injuries. We are extending this scheme to save more lives. Speeding is dangerous and causes too much suffering,? said Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

Compared to speed humps, cameras are a very expensive alternative. Each device costs between £ 24 000 (Rs 1.2 million) and £ 80 000 (Rs 4 million) to buy and install. They can be dear to operate too. It is estimated that nearly half of every speeding fine goes on administrative costs.

Despite this, speed cameras are still considered as the ultimate moneymaking machine. A single camera has distributed up to £ 800 000 worth of fines in a single week. A scheme adopted two years ago allows partnerships of police and local authorities to keep part of the cash raised to get more cameras. Government banks the rest.

This year, the Treasury is expected to pocket around £ 20 million (Rs 1 billion) from speeding tickets dished out by the cameras. The recent decision to extend the network of cameras has fuelled an already explosive controversy.

?While there is a need for cameras on certain routes, there is also a massive suspicion that many of these devices are only there for revenue,? said Rebecca Rees of the AA.

Over the past months, anger over speed cameras has evolved into rebellion and outright terrorism. More than 700 cameras have been blown up, sawed down, pelted with eggs or ringed with old car tyres, doused with petrol and set ablaze. The Movement Against Detection (MAD) is targeting the devices that have taken a heavy toll on drivers? licences and wallets.

Communicating through Internet chat rooms and moving under the cover of darkness, MAD activists have caused millions of pounds worth of damage but are poised to become the most popular gang of criminals since Robin Hood and his Merry Men. The police brands them as ?terrorists? but they do have a point.

Target dangerous drivers </B>