Senior police officer begs drivers to slow down

| 11/02/2009

(CNS): With one driver having been caught doing almost 70mph in a 30mph zone in North Side, and given the islands’ track record on serious road accidents, Area Commander for the Eastern Districts, Chief Inspector Richard Barrow, is begging drivers to slow down. He said over the last week officers have detected 46 traffic offences, most of which were speeding. Making an impassioned plea to the public to slow down on the roads, he said speeding was the  most common offence witnessed by his officers and was of a serious concern.

“Throughout Bodden Town, East End and North Side speeding vehicles continue to be a problem,” Barrow added. “In one case we caught a vehicle doing 67mph in a 30mph zone in North Side. This is a hugely excessive speed which put the driver and the public at risk.”

He explained that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) works hard to promote road safety and encourage responsible driving practices. Talks are carried out in schools by Neighborhood Police Officers. In addition, the StreetSkills committee, which is made up of the RCIPS, the National Roads Authority and the Cayman Islands Road Safety Advisory Council, also  targets drivers through publicity and advertising, and police officers conduct enforcement on the roads.

“We all have a responsibility to make sure we keep the roads as safe as possible,” Barrow added.“When you get behind the wheel, think about your actions. Speeding generally does not get you where you want to go any quicker than sticking to the speed limit anyway. It’s just dangerous and irresponsible.”

Barrow also called on the community to look out for each other on the road. “If one of your friends or relatives is driving badly or taking risks on the road, talk to them. It’s much better to address the problem now than see them end up in a car crash,” he said.

Anyone who would like to support the StreetSkills is asked to contact Deborah Denis on deborah.denis@gov.ky or 244-3004.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.

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  1. Anonymous says:

     The most common traffic offence in cayman is not speeding it is people not using their turning indicator – the entire cayman budget could be paid if officers ticketed people not using their indicator 

    • Anonymous says:

      There should be reminder signage for traffic inbound to traffic circles to "LOOK AND SIGNAL (THEIR INTENTIONS) FINE $500", hopefully people then would finally get it.  For those 8 or 9 of you who practice lane discipline and signal, thanks, and please keep it up!

       

  2. Anonymous says:

    i imagine the reason people speed is the same reason people park in the disable section of supermarkets, is the same reason people park on double yellow lines at the immgration department, is the same reason people cross four lanes of traffic and yellow lines leaving the gas station at the Compass intersection -> its because the police don’t focus on the little things therefore people react accordingly.  if the police started giving parking tickets you would start to see more respect in all areas of road traffic from drivers.

    and why is it that i drive along west bay road everyday and get passed in dangerous situations by idiots, yet they are still on the road. you would think they pass the unmarked police cars just as often.

    some months ago the government ran an ad in the newspaper that showed people how to navigate the lanes at round abouts which would have cost them about $1,500. they had pictures of roundabouts with arrows. now you would think they could spend $1,500 actually painting arrows on the road and therefore stopping most of the accidents. or someone in the police force who keeps attending the accidents would paint them on their themselves. or the amulance drivers would paint them on.

     

  3. Anonymous says:

    Today driving in the area of the location of the former Dirty Reeds tavern a pickup truck passed me at about 55mph only to slow down as he passed an RCIP officer issueing a ticket and once past the officer he speeded back up again…

    Forget the pleas issue speeding tickets.

  4. Anonymous says:

    This should also apply to police vehicles.  I have been overtaken while driving at the correct limit by police cars not displaying lights or sirens.   Speed kills but so does lack of concentration.  Everyday I see people wondering all over the road in their vehicles because they are on their cellphones and not concentrating on operting the vehicle.  This should be a priority to outlaw as it is in many other countries.