2 weeks for motorists to get their affairs in order
Crackdown programme on lawless drivers
Story Created: Oct 18, 2014 at 8:20 PM ECT
Story Updated: Oct 18, 2014 at 8:20 PM ECT
In two weeks, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will initiate a ?crackdown? programme which targets motorists for breaches of motoring laws and regulations.
This was disclosed Thursday by PC Brent Batson of the TTPS Road Safety Campaign, during the weekly news briefing at the Police Administration Building on Edward Street, Port of Spain.
?The ACP mobile and the senior superintendent of Highway patrols want to express their concerns over the increase in accidents which are taking place over the weekend periods. Drivers continue to operate in a reckless manner and as such we continue our appeals to the motoring public to take note that their actions can have fatal consequences on roadways.
?As a result, ACP Doolalchan wants to warn the public that in two weeks time, the Highway patrols will commence a crackdown initiative against all motorists. Everything from inspection stickers, permits, insurance, non-functioning lights, faulty licence plates, defective tyres, and the list goes on, everything will be targeted,? Batson said.
He then asked that the motoring public ?get their affairs in order? in the coming two weeks to avoid receiving tickets for basic offences.
He noted that the exercises were expected to focus on the highways of this country between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. and that there would be no excuses for any infractions.
?Get your documentation in order and make sure that you and your vehicles are in order as there would be no excuses when this crackdown begins?If a hammer is needed to change people?s behaviour on our roadways then so be it,? Batson said.
He reiterated his plea for drivers to stay away from alcohol if they knew they had to get behind the wheel later, noting that two of the road fatalities that occurred over the past weekend involved drunk drivers.
Batson also asked drivers to observe the speed limits, noting that the tenders to acquire speed guns had opened this week.
?The tender was handled by the (Vehicle Management Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago) and on Tuesday, the tenders were opened. If I am not mistaken, five bids were put forward, and following this, an evaluation committee from VMCOTT will review these submissions before the next stage begins. But are we going to wait for the police to be deployed with this high-tech machinery before we change our behaviour? I am saying no! We need to change this behaviour now, check your speedometers now, because the radars we are acquiring are very accurate,? Batson said.
