BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Traffic Department has expressed concern about the level of non-compliance with the Federation’s traffic laws, especially as it relates to vehicle tint, defective tyres and wearing of seatbelts.
Last week Friday (June 1), the Department conducted one of its regular exercises, where three Vehicle Check Points (VCPs) were set up along or near the F. T. Williams Highway and vehicles were stopped and checked for traffic infractions.
One VCP was at the airport roundabout, one at the Camps roundabout and the other along the stretch of road that leads to New Road.
According to SGT Calvin Amory of the Traffic Department, during the hour and 45-minute- long exercise, 464 vehicles were stopped and checked and almost 60 tickets were issued to those found to be in offence of the traffic laws.
He informed that 18 tickets were issued to persons whose vehicles were too heavily tinted, 17 to persons whose vehicles were fitted with defective tyres and 13 to persons who failed to wear their seatbelts while the vehicles in which they travelled were in operation.
Two tickets were issued for failing to display licence sticker, one for driving an unlicenced vehicle, one for using a cellular phone while operating a vehicle, one for driving without a driver’s licence and two for driving vehicle with defective registration plates.
Seventeen individuals were asked to produce their driver’s licence and proof of insurance at the St. Johnston Police Station within a specified period. Three of the vehicles which were stopped – as explained by Amory – were searched for drugs, firearms and ammunition. However, no arrests were made.
SGT Amory told this publication of the Traffic Department’s concern with the number of persons who neglect to check their tyres before operating their vehicles and those who refuse to use seatbelts.
He said these behaviours either increase accident risk or increase the likelihood of injury should an accident occur.
“We continue to impress upon motorists to comply with the law in relation to the tint. Majority of the tickets issued were for tint violations and we are also appealing to motorists to check their tyres when they are driving. We recognise persons are not inspecting their tyres before they move off in their vehicles and we are asking them to do so, because once they are defective it can cause the tyres to blow out which increases the risk of accident which can lead to loss of limb or even life.
“Also, while many persons practice wearing seatbelts, there are those who don’t. We are warning persons to always buckle up because doing so could be the difference between life and death. These are very serious issues and motorists must understand that the traffic laws are there to promote road safety.”
