Motorists commended for generally-good behaviour during Sugar Mas’ street activities
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the dust from the Sugar Mas’ 41 festivities having settled, an official of the Traffic Department is commending motorists for their good behaviour and their general adherence to the stipulated rules and regulations for that period.
Superintendent Cromwell Henry – Head of the Traffic Department – conducted an assessment of the activities following their end and informed that while things ran relatively quietly on J’Ouvert Day, the Department encountered some difficulty on the two following parade days.
He explained that on those two days, Children’s Parade Day and Grand Parade Day, 12 vehicles that were illegally parked had to be towed away.
“From a traffic point of view, it was quiet. There were no major accidents but there were some minor accidents which we term as nuisance accidents. They were caused by lack of concentration by the motorists.
“On the day that J’Ouvert was held, people adhered to the rules and regulations for the most part. But, on the days of the Children’s Parade and Grand Parade Day, we towed a total of 12 vehicles which were parked in restricted areas; that is, in areas which were along the parade route.”
Persons whose vehicles were towed were not allowed to regain possession of them until they had paid the $150 towing fee.
So well-behaved were the motorists on J’Ouvert Day that – according to the Superintendent – no tickets were issued then, but about 20 were issued on the days of Children’s Parade, Grand Parade Day and Las’ Lap.
“There were no arrests for drunk driving and no accidents which we are aware of resulted from people who were driving in a drunken state.
“We continue to urge motorists to be cautions on the road and observe the speed limit in the different areas; comply with the safety regulations that we continue to promote, including use of seatbelts and refraining from using cell phones while operating vehicles.”
The Superintendent said he is appreciative of those persons who “went out of their way to observe all the traffic directions and restrictions and who ensured that we had a safe Carnival through their responsible driving”.
And in this – 2013 – he expressed his hope that the safe driving which was practiced during the Carnival and Christmas season would continue throughout this year.
