Cops’ Christmas clampdown aims to keep people alive
(CNS): The RCIPS’ annual road safety campaign startsthis Friday and police have said that they will be clamping down on drink driving, speeding, cell-phone driving and failing to wear seatbelts over the coming weeks in a bid to reduce deaths and injuries on Cayman’s roads. The ‘Stay Alive’ initiative starts on 30 November and runs into January 2013. The RCIPS said officers will use a combination of education and zero-tolerance enforcement to challenge dangerous driving behaviour and reinforce the ‘don’t drink and drive’ message. Targeted operations will take place throughout the campaign period to detect those who drink and drive, commit traffic offences or use the roads for criminal purposes.
“We do not want another family in the Cayman Islands losing a loved one as a result of drink driving or dangerous driving on our roads,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales. “Too many people still get behind the wheel of their vehicles after drinking. When they do that they gamble with their own lives and the lives of innocent road users. Our message is quite clear – if you have a drink designate a driver, or take a cab.”
Seales also reminds motorists who speed that a hefty fine could put a serious dent in their pockets this Christmas.
“Since the introduction of the new Traffic Law speeding fines are incremental. That means that the basic fine increases by $20 for every mile over the speed limit. For example, if you are ticketed for travelling at 50mph in a 25mph limit you will be fined $500. If you are also found to be using your cell-phone and not wearing a seatbelt your fine increases to $800.
The senior officer warned that those ticketed for speeding in a school zone, while the lights are flashing, can see an increase of $40 on the fine for every mile over the limit
“If you are found to be travelling in excess of double the limit – for example 51 mph in a 25 mph zone – you face six months in jail. That’s how seriously we take road safety in this country,” he warned. “We want everyone in the Cayman Islands to have a safe and enjoyable festive season. So, if you want to play your part in reducing deaths and injuries on the roads, or you want to avoid having to pay hundreds of dollars in fines, join us by playing your part in our ‘Stay Alive’ initiative to make Cayman’s roads safer for everyone.”
Category: Crime
Whilst I agree with all of the comments over poor driving standards in Cayman and the need for the police to be more pro-active, there has to be a balance.
Yesterday I saw armed police officers on Walkers Road near the schools lurking alongside a side road stop sign and giving driver's who slowed almost to a stop (but not actually stopping) $100 traffic tickets. This is not what the Cayman public wants Mr. Baines! At one stage they had several cars to give tickets to lined up at the road side. It was embarressing. This was not a major or troublesome junction, just a minor side road with zero danger in not stopping fully as the view both ways was totally clear. I spoke to one of the drivers that got a ticket and the officers were offering no education nor using any discretion. "You did not come to a complete stop, here is $100 ticket to be paid by….." Armed officers, massive police SUV… extremelly minor offences… extremelly large fines……This is rubbish policing that is turning suporters of law enforcement like myself towards the haters that we see daily slating the police for little reason. There are far more serious driving offences that could be simply identified and prosecuted if you are trying to raise cash for the Government, staking out quiet junctions with armed officers just for the sake of an easy ticket is stupid and will lose you the little support that you currently have. (and I was not even a victim to this indescriminate stupidity!)
If you haven’t already heard of HomeSafe.ky check them out, they are a car delivery service, great idea. at least someone is trying to keep our roads safe.
They need to send out special warnings to our MLA's.
I witnessed someone driving on Saturday in a silver grey small car almost kill a taxi driver by running them off the road by San Sebastion…alittle after midnight…this person wassoo drunk they were swerving the whole time!! they then pulled into kirks supermarket….I wish I had followed them and yelled at them for putting others lives in danger…from what some friends have said that was not the only person that almost got ran off the road that night…..people need to wake up!!!!! Don't Drink and Drive!!!!
Drunk driving = lose licence + BIG fine – watch ow many sober up!
Bah humbugs! The grinches are out early. I'm all for safety but I bet it's the normal people that get penalised not the taxi drivers (speeding & bad driving), dump truckers (massively excessive speeders; road-killers in the making), bee-in-a-can-sounding-exhaust-boyracers, or well-connected people.
Safe driving, walking & cycling everyone.
Why is this only happening at certain times of the year? Why is this not happening all year around?
PLEASE install permanent speed traps along certain stretches of roads.
What about the failure to use turn signals, especially at roundabouts?
I think this should be done all year…most of our accidents causing death by dangerous driving, death caused by drunk driving are not during the holiday times!!!
I’m sorry but although a good initiative why does a campaign have to be introduced to enforce the law. This should be year round with zero tolerance at ALL times. The Christmas Season should just heighten awareness and RCIP should be out in full force at all times of the day and night along with random road blocks etc. But for this to work the RCIP needs to hit the roads….I’m on the road all the time and this week alone I passed one police car – ONE, really?? So let’s see if they really stick to this campaign. RCIP I support you but I need to see you more.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE…….CLAMP DOWN ON CELL PHONES AND SEAT BELTS. I SAW A WOMAN TODAY FLYING AROUND THE ROUNDABOUT WITH PHONE PROPPED ON SHOULDER CHAT CHAT CHAT. NO CARE IN THE WORLD WOW. IDIOTS IGNORING LAW STILL.
I hope that in the interest of and traffic that the cable laying on West Bay Road will stop in the next few days until after the Christmas shopping traffic. Traffic is near grid lock without the construction during that period and with it it will be a total nightmare. Not unlike a few years back when they closed the road by Camana Bay just before Christmas.bringing the traffic and shopping to a halt.
To not stop it at the end of this week will be extremely poor judgement