Police Issue 408,000 Tickets for Traffic Offences Since January

The police have issued 408,000 tickets to motorists for traffic offences since the beginning of the year.

Head of the Police Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Calvin Allen, made the disclosure while addressing a JIS Think Tank on December 2.

He said that of the total number of tickets issued, 130,000 were for excessive speeding which, he said, has been a leading factor in fatal road crashes over the last two years.

Excessive speeding has accounted for 25 per cent of road deaths since the start of the year.  “It has accounted for 74 of the 289 …lives that have been lost on the nation’s streets to date,” he informed.

SSP Allen also cited disobeying traffic signals, turning without due care, swerving, improper overtaking, failing to keep near left, and drifting into the path of other vehicles, as other major causes of road fatalities.

He noted that drifting is often the result of distracted driving and inattention.

“Anything that distracts you from your attention on the road is a no-no. That includes texting, eating and applying make-up as we now understand some women are doing. When you engage the engine, it is a full-time job. Any slight distraction for even less than a second can result in fatality,” he stated.

Meanwhile, SSP Allen said the police will be targeting party spots, and setting up operations at various points around the country during the festive season.

“Drinking and driving is a perennial problem. We are aware that during the season many will be going to parties and having fun but there are some stipulations,” he said.

He is also encouraging parents to exercise due care when allowing children to use their vehicles to go to parties late at night. He said parents should give careful consideration to transporting their children to and from parties rather than allowing them to drive.

“It is better for your child to be calling you at (a late) hour for you to come and pick them up than for anybody else to be calling you enquiring if you are the parent of this particular person, because most times, when you get that call at that hour, it is not good news,” he pointed out.

Of the 289 road fatalities to date, 92 were pedestrians, 51 motorcyclists, 45 private car drivers, 34 private motor vehicle passengers, and 26 were pedal cyclists.

SSP Allen has issued an appeal to all road users to be extra careful on the roads, particularly during the festive season. He also called for special attention to be paid to pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists.