The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is reporting that for the period January to June 2020, some 55 road users have lost their lives in road traffic crashes, when compared to 68 for the same period in 2019.
This is a 19 per cent reduction in accidents, according to a news release issued by the TTPS, today.
In the release, the TTPS also reports that some1,300 motorists were ticketed for various traffic offences since the launch of the UTURN Traffic Enforcement E-ticketing system, in May 2020.
According to police, this totals $1.3 million of the expected amount to be paid to the State by drivers and front seat passengers who failed to buckle up while commuting in a vehicle. Drivers also incurred four demerit points for failing to adhere to this road regulation.
In its most recent road regulation enforcement exercises on Friday 10th July 2020, the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch’s Road Policing Task Force (RPTF) issued 126 Electronic Fixed Penalty Notices to drivers for exceeding speed limits, failing to wear seatbelts, driving while using a mobile phone, driving a motor vehicle without an identification light illuminating the registration plate and driving a vehicle at night with one headlight.
The exercises also resulted in the arrest of 12 drivers for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offences, with one driver producing a reading of 119 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The TTPS notes that this reading was over three times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol.
The exercises were conducted along three major highways, namely the Beetham Highway, the Churchill Roosevelt Highway and the Uriah Bulter Highway. Officers also conducted exercises along Main Roads such as the Dinsley Main Road, Arouca, Orange Grove, Tacarigua, and the Caura Royal Road. The team was led by Senior Superintendent Dominique, Superintendent Gordon, ASP Williams, Inspector Charles and supervised by Sgt Harrylal.
TTPS Traffic Safety Coordinator, Sgt Brent Batson, expressed his disappointment that many motorists were still receiving traffic tickets for seatbelt offences.
Sgt Batson reveals that the TTPS will soon be commencing the ‘Sit, Click & Drive’ awareness programme under the umbrella of its iRoadsafe Education and Awareness Campaign aimed at helping road users practice safer and more responsible behaviour and avoid points on their driver’s permits.
The RPTF, the driving thrust behind the TTPS’ road policing efforts, hopes this will act as a deterrent to motorists, further decreasing the 19% reduction in fatal road traffic accidents achieved for 2020.