Cops urge drinkers to use taxis or sober driver
(CNS): After arresting six people at the weekend for drinking and driving, the RCIPS Traffic Management issued a warning to drivers, who are not following the laws to get a taxi or use a designated driver if they are drinking. Having caught six drunks behind the wheel, despite the widespread warnings to motorists not to drink and drive, the traffic cops said motorists risk being disqualified from driving as well as injuring themselves and others. “Motorists are not adhering to the Traffic Law, and they are not heeding our warnings; always have a designated driver or take a taxi,” said Inspector Barnett who is in charge of Traffic Management.
Category: Crime
Um, how many more times do we keep asking for buses that run late into the night to all districts? Two shifts of bus drivers one morning till evening and the other evening into the early hours – more employment for Caymanians, more safe options for getting home for drinkers. Jeez it aint like its rocket science.
Caught a Taxi home New Years eve this year from the Marriot to near the Turtle Farm. I've done the route before, (and even being overcharged) it shouldn't have been more than 25$. I had 3 taxis deny me when I told them I knew the rate, as they were trying to charge me 60$ for a 11 minute car ride.
It is a joke.
This is an easy fix for the drunk driving problem and the motorist deaths.
ENFORCE USE OF METERS – NO METER NO LICENSE
The police ought to extend their service of giving pretty girls who are over the limit, a ride home, to ugly guys like me.
3 years ago myself and 5 friends went to Cayman for pirates week,we had brought costumes and had a really fun day watching the parade,afterwards we walked up to sunset house for some food and drinks,then decided to go back in to town to see the bands and enjoy the street party.
As we had been standing all day we called a cab to take the six of us back to town,we got droped off by the Paradise Bar as cab could go no further,cost 60 dollars! 10 dollars per person for a 30 second ride. I refused to pay as did one of my friends, the others paid. So, the cab driver still ended up with forty bucks for a ride from sunset to the paradise bar. I am not at all surprised that the people who live in Grand Cayman drink and drive. I don't think drinking and driving is right,but, I can understand people's reservations about calling a cab.
(Myself and my other friend that refused to pay, did share the difference with them latter)
but it was still a massive rip off, something you do t forget in a hurry.
Tammy.
Eat, drink, wine and dine AND pay an arm and a leg afterwards. Now it's time to go home and you cry murder to pay a taxi fare. While taxis can be a bit expensive when used late at night they are cheaper than having to go to court for drinking and driving or getting in an accident.
In regards to the public bus system: the major problem is that the buses are individually owned and those owners choose to only operate during the peak money making hours. If those buses operated like a proper public bus system should then people would have options on how to get back home after a night of enjoyment. There is no one or any law stopping these bus owners from operating 18 – 24 hours a day.
On the public bus system, the problem is exactly what you say. It is not really public, it is private. This is why you have a "public" bus system with buses that look like they were inspired by the fast andthe furious movie. We should have a real public bus/transport system, we can consider trams or something else if anyone wants. These should be standard buses on standard scheduleswith standard stops. The drivers should take an additional driving test and there should be an easy way to report when they drive all the way down the right side in morning traffic. Maybe this will reduce the traffic in the morning as more people will feel safe riding the bus to work.
What ever happened to the concept of a designated driver? Is that something that no longer exists?
Each TAXI DRIVER HAS A TAXI PERMIT WHICH HAS THEIR NAME AND ID # the Public Transport Dept is there for you to report those drivers to, if their permit is not displayed then do the next best and take down their license plate numbers. Too many of them DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS WHO ARE INTOXICATED.
All residents have been taught for years that if they just always put blame on someone else, Government is eventually going to fix it for them. The responsibility isn't with the rip off taxi driver or the government failing to put up a properly run public transportation system! The responsibility is within each of us. We know the law and we need to follow it if we want to have an orderly society. Problem here is that nobody is around to enforce the law, just the constant cuddling of the offenders.
Looking at it from the other side, I feel it is the government and police's responsibility to make it as safe for me to drive home at night. It is not my responsiblity to ensure that other people don't drink and drive and kill me. Therefore, if having cheaper taxis or a public transport system would reduce the chances of me being killed by someone DUI then I think it is government's responsibility to implement those.
Awwwwww, maybe the offenders just needed a good cuddle!
I think its safer to drive drunk than get in a taxi with those crazy taxi drivers that don't believe in turn signals, sudden stops and pulling into traffic while it is unsafe to do so with no signal and crazy speeding to overtake.
**************TAXI METERS*************
11:36, all taxi's are supposed to have meters, they just choose not to turn them on. Why?
I will tell you why, because if turned on their fee's are slashed in half if not more.
I have had one taxi man pick me up from Grand Harbor and take me to work in town and he had his meter on! It cost me $8. Without a meter, tha ride cost me $13-17 depending on who picked me up, what mood the were in on the day and whether they had their "book" with them.
They have one of the cushied jobs these Islands have to offer and they exploit it and everyone, knowing full welll that what they are doing amounts to stealing.
If there wern't so much liquor stores on each corner of of each district for people to drink there- selves to death then we would'nt have so much alcoholics all over the place.But people no a days don't care about one another around here which is said.They are only worried about making money.
10:52, we do care about each other, that is why we drink so much together!
15.24 OHKAYYYYY ALOCHOLIC
When it's not that far to drive and taxis are such a rip-off people are risking to drive drunk. Judge away, but people are making these choices.
If you want to do something about it then open up taxis to real competition and allow a cheaper alternative night buys to operate.
Or shout about the reality of imperfect people maiing imperfect choices based on their imperfect reality.
We just do not "do" implementation of laws in Cayman whether it is DUI or leashing of dogs or not breeding dangerous dogs or littering our streets and the properties of other people or disciplining of civil servants for non performance or tinted/blacked out car windows and number plates or…..and the list goes on. Laws and Regulations are already in place covering all these things but very little is ever done to really enforce them on a consistent basis.
Obviously the responsibility not to drink and drive comes down to the individual, but if Police are serious about stopping this problem, they just need to set up more road blocks.
I have lived on this island for 10 years and been through 1 road block in that time.
There should be road blocks on West Bay Road every Friday and Saturday night at around bar closing time. These are the people you need to catch, as most of the serious accidents occur at this time or later by the individuals that have been drinking for 6 or 7 hours.
Not that it is okay, but setting up a road block at 10pm just catches the responsible drinkers who maybe had 1 over the limit during dinner…still not okay, but pick your battles wisely.
RP on a Sunday after noon is also a prime place to catch the drunks. I see them rip out of there around 5pm 3 sheets to the wind.
Having late night bus that go around picking up people after the bar or club is closed at a reasonable price would be a good idea for those taxis that may need a few extra $$ on slow season & nights etc! gt voter
There are a few things to consider here: first of all as people have mentioned, the taxis are a shocking rip-off, especially if you have to get another one in the morning to collect your car from where you left it. Not saying it means it's OK to drink and drive, but after a couple of glasses of wine at dinner its easy to justify saving yourself a $50- round trip fare for a 3 or 4 mile journey.
Secondly the taxi drivers here can't drive. They go the long way, speed or drive at walking pace for no apparent reason, don't give way, pull out into oncoming traffic and talk on their cell phones constantly. Not all of them but most of them. And most of the taxis are crapped out old death traps. Personally I think I am safer driving cautiously in my own car after a couple of glasses of wine than I am in a taxi.
Lastly if the RCIPS actually enforced the drink-driving rules here half the bars, restaurants and sports clubs would go out of business immediately. If they are going to start enforcing it I would like to see the blood alcohol limit raised to something reasonable.
I would like to see the blood alcohol limit raised to something reasonable The bood alcohol limit here is already far higher than the UK, US, Canada – in fact the highest in of all the countries listed on Wikipedia (and as they point out, a level of alcohol that would actually qualifiy you as legally drunk in some jurisdictions even if you were not behind the wheel). What do you want to raise it to?
Call home safe it's way cheaper than a cab and your car is there in the morning. The only way to go in my opinion!!!
Only cheaper if you live close to town.
Been there, done that and they never turned up. Rather take my chances on Elvis
Please explain "home safe" for those of us (including me) that aren't aware of it. Thank you.
Home Safe – a guy comes to you on his little fold-away moped. He puts his moped in teh back of your car and drives you home. He then unfolds his moped and drives away. You are "home safe" and you don't have to worry about how you are going to pick up your car the following day.
I believe it is run by the security company
last time I went from South Sound (near the rugby club) to Governor's Harbour at midnight and it cost me $35
A service where a guy on a fold up scooter arrives, puts his scooter in the boot of your car and drives you and your car home.
Fair enough. Now can you do something about the rip off taxis?
I do not know why there could not be a continuous bus/shuttle that runs up and down West Bay Rd. and makes several stops and runs every 15 minutes or so. This could run all day and until 3:30 a.m. or approximately 1/2 hr. or so after the last club closes. Tourists would never need to be in a rental car at night if they were headed out for dinner or drinks as this shuttle could be their route of transportation. This shuttle could also take locals from restaurant to bar etc.
I also think a bus route needs to be established that goes from 7MB to West Bay and one from 7MB to Savannah(?). These routes could run on the 1/2 hr. to hour. Locals could buy bus passes to keep the price down. Tourist could pay per ride or have a 3 or 5 day pass.
Just my 2 cents. I rent a car when I am on holiday, but it never leaves the lot at night as I like to have drinks and go out to the restaurants/bars. I end up walking if it is not too late (which I am not sure is a safe alternative any more) and taking a taxi if very late at night (which is very expensive. I would never rent a car if a shuttle was available during the day as I usually just go up and down West Bay Rd.
There is a bus services that runs throughout the day. Albeit there is no specific timetable, you just have to hope one comes by soon and it doesn't run into the night. It costs about $2 to go up West Bay Road. they also have routes that go all over the Island
That is true (the bus route during the day), but it would be really great if it would run at night.
12:43, you missed the point, we need this service to extend past 8pm.
I do not understand why these same bus drivers screaming that life is so hard in Cayman trying to make money to pay bills when they pack up and go home before wht potetially cold be their busiest time, 8pm-3am.
They essentially cater to the workforce, 7am-5pm.
Hell, make it $4 after 8pm or even $10! Still 1/10th of what you end up being robbed of y the taxi's.
The majority of taxi business is tourists, who are here for very limited time and the taxi's reckon they will never see them again, so they rip them off.
Then they assme any other whiteperson is a tourist and try to do the same to you.
If you are white and local, try speakig with an Ameican or British accent next time you get in the taxi and when they charge you the fair, which will be double if not triple the correct rate, switch into a Caymanian accent and see how fast they backpeddle.
There is no excuse to drive drunk. Period. However, the taxi system on this island is completely flawed and is run like an organized crime racket built to extort the higher fare posible from the customer.
Also, there is no reason why there should not be a large, well-lit bus, that runs up and down 7 mile beach in the evening for tourists and residents alike.
Confiscate vehicles or impose 3 month jail terms. The present set up is so broken extreme remedial action is required.
There are plenty other traffic laws drivers don’t obey but the cops don’t seem to know the law. Either way right or wrong, drop taxi prices or put in proper public transport and you will see a drop in drinking and driving. Not an excuse for doing it, just a way to help the problem I think.
Until they get straightened out, addicts are a a drag on non- addicts. Period
Inspector, way to go! You are saving lives and preventing grief and heartaches. Many families will be at peace because of your actions. Moms and dads will be able to sleep at nights because they know that their child is not driving drunk.
Less broken homes will be another plus.
Have the cops on the road from11 p.m-3:am, it is the time when fatalits occur.
Blessings
How about a cheaper and fixed rate for taxi services?
It's very expensive to call a cab here.
PS: Before you judge me. I don't drink at all as I have a heart problem and drinking could be deadly for me.
This is a probably one of caymans biggest problems, people don't want to change and will not change on this island unfortuanelty, the police every blue moon decide to do a few road blocks and arrest a few people, then warn us, Christmas the do a WHOLE MONTH!!! Wow…
If the RCIPS officers want to really do their jobs they could arrest at least 15 people every night of the week and weekends at least 40 people..
People also don't want to use the taxis as they rip you off, believe it or not it is cheaper for me to hire a guy to drive my car all night than to get a cab home…