Cops report over 50 smashes in 11 days
(CNS): The local police have revealed that there were some 54 road crashes in Cayman over an eleven day period in the middle of the RCIPS’ festive season road campaign. In the regular update on the 'Stay Alive' road safety drive, police said they were disappointed that motorists continued to ignore police warnings and the important safety issues associated with offences such as drinking and driving, speeding, cell-phone use, dangerous driving and disqualified driving. Keeping the roads safe is quite clearly not a priority for many drivers on Cayman’s roads, the police said as they counted up the ticket and arrest toll.
Twenty-one people were arrested between 30 November and 11 December. Twelve of those arrests were for DUI and the remaining nine for dangerous driving, disqualified driving, leaving the scene of accidents, no licence and no insurance. Another 49 people were ticketed for speeding, 20 for cell-phone use and 57 for not wearing seatbelts. More than 120 other traffic offences were uncovered and ticketed, while 54 drivers ploughed into each other or street furniture.
“It’s disappointing that so many people continue to ignore our advice,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales. “Too many families have already lost loved ones on our roads, and we all need to play our part to make our roads much safer. We are not going to let up on our enforcement activity and my advice to everyone is to use taxis, busses and designated drivers to make sure you get home from your celebrations in one piece.”
He warned drivers to stop and think about the implications a death, serious injury or loss of income could have on their families. “If you don’t stop and think for yourself, think of your wife, your husband and your children and how they would survive without you, or if you lost your job as a result of a driving ban.”
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said that road safety is a 365 day a year priority for them but the focused festive public education drive 'Stay Alive' will run until Friday 4 January next year.
Category: Crime
Tis the season to be Jolly
It's quite clear to me that, 'acute phone-separation anguish' (APSA) caused by being unable to text or hold a cell phone while driving, and even having to hide it while scanning the landscape for police, has resulted in this jump in the accident rate. Now you have to text with the phone balanced on your knee, which just makes driving more difficult, particularly for those with glasses. It's actually a lot easier to see your phone screen in low light, which is why these blackened windows are such a good idea, and just in case there are police taking note, the tinted plate covers keep them from being able to get in touch with you later. The law of unintended consequences often kicks in like this.
Why have a Police dept if all they do is give moral advice and take incomplete insurance accounts after events have transpired? Why are we paying for moral adjudication rather than actual crime fighting?
Its funny, could it be that the police need some more police? One set to handle Mckeeva issue and the other for road safety. Clearly something is not right here. 54 accident in just 11 days? Can some one tell me if this is an error? Or should it be 11 months????
Road safety needs to be more than lecturing advice. RCIPS demonstrates year after year that Traffic duties are not a priority when the enforcement blitz runs but a few weeks a year. We hear the same old BS every year and we've lost faith. To restore it, RCIPS needs to get out there 365 and enforce all road laws, not just the ones that are convenient for them to ticket over the holidays.
This is sad indeed. When laws are not inforced regularly,people ignore it.
I am totally in agreement with safer roads. One thing though, please lets not forget how many police vehicles have been in accidents this year. Luck has been on their side at least twice, where the drivers were intoxicated even though it was the police officers fault so it was listed as a DUI.