More speed guns coming

Responding to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said, “One road fatality is one too many.” Sinanan disclosed that by the end of this week, an article will be published, inviting suppliers to tender for the option to provide certain speed measuring devices.

He said this will be an open competitive bid and the cost of acquiring these devices will be less than that to acquire similar devices previously.

Sinanan said there are currents six spot speed enhancement cameras and nine speed guns. Explaining the former do not require a police officer to operate them and more of them will be acquired over time, Sinanan said they will be introduced on a phased basis.

The minister said among the other measures being taken by the ministry’s Traffic Management Branch to improve road safety in TT are the installation of high tension barriers along the Uriah Butler and Churchill Roosevelt Highways; the provision of road studs on highways and main roads and the embarkation of reform of the legislative framework governing the fixed points penalty trafficking system and the introduction of a demerit points system in TT.

Indicating that Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi will soon pilot legislation in Parliament with respect to this system, Sinanan was confident that it would, “create the platform for more orderly road use and result in a further reduction in road fatalities and accidents. He said there was, “a reduction in road fatalities in 2016 over 2015” and was optimistic this trend would continue this year.