Venice's iconic canals, long celebrated for their romantic charm, are now grappling with modern-day traffic challenges as authorities roll out speed cameras to curb reckless boating. The move follows rising concerns over accidents and structural damage caused by waves from speeding vessels.
Andrea Balbi, a veteran gondolier and president of the Venice Gondolier Association, warns that high-speed boats endanger both residents and visitors. "When a boat goes fast and causes a wave, passengers could lose balance and fall," Balbi explains, emphasizing risks to public safety. The waves also accelerate erosion of historic buildings already vulnerable to rising sea levels.
With over 600,000 boats navigating Venice's waterways annually, the new monitoring system aims to balance tourism demands with preservation efforts. The initiative highlights broader tensions between economic activity and cultural sustainability in one of the world's most visited cities.
