Motorists Encouraged to Obey Time-Bound Road Signs

The Police are advising motorists that there is no change in the law regarding roads governed by time-bound signs.

Speaking during the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) podcast, ‘Pon Di Corner’, Head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gary McKenzie, emphasised that these signs, which state the times allowed for right or left turns onto other roads, must be obeyed.

ACP McKenzie indicated that there are circumstances when the rule is relaxed.

“You may, from time to time, have police officers that will be controlling traffic, and they will allow vehicles to turn, even during the time when [a] sign says no [right or left turn]. The police have the authority to do that; if the police are not there to give you that, then you shouldn’t,” he emphasised.

The PSTEB Head noted that at some time-bound intersections in the Corporate Area, for example, where Hope Road meets Kingsway, the JCF ensures that during peak hours, officers are on hand to direct traffic.

“Most evenings we try and have an officer there to assist. But outside of that, it is presumed that the traffic may not be that heavy that the police should go there. I know people may want to turn for convenience, but [they] must obey the sign” he said.

ACP McKenzie emphasised that these signs were erected after careful consideration.

“Due diligence has been done before those signs have been placed there. So even though someone might go at a particular time… these signs are all over and they are there for a good reason. The encouragement is that they should be obeyed, based on what is written on them,” he added.