Traffic light cameras coming soon

Don’t even try to break those traffic lights by the end of this year — you may get caught by traffic light cameras.

This is one of the major plans for traffic offenders in 2004 and beyond as government tries to grapple with spiralling road accidents and fatalities. In this regard, Works and Transport Minister, Franklyn Khan, has sent a stern warning to errant drivers that they will be dealt with in the future if they don’t try to be responsible drivers. In an interview with Sunday Newsday, Khan said the measures will include compliance with the laws and public education. There will also be the introduction of the breathalyser system, which will help monitor the alcohol and speed limit of drivers, a laser and camera technology system in which cameras will be strategically placed at traffic light intersections and the expansion of the cat-eyes programme.

The proposed measures are expected to cost government some TT$2 million. Khan disclosed that one component of the breathalyser, is the blood-testing part of the system which will need legislation. Despite reservations that the Opposition may not support this, he said government will be going full-speed ahead to pass legislation for the breathalyser. Speaking more about the camera system, he said in cases in which people need to be charged for fatalities and breach of other traffic regulations, the cameras and laser system will be able to detect the victim and the parties  guilty of breaking the red light, for example. But at the heart of Khan’s plans, is a major education campaign, which will also target students and young drivers.
So far, there have been 166 vehicular accidents, which  resulted in 197 fatalities for the year, one of the highest figures in just over a decade. Khan suspects that most of these accidents had been as a result of alcohol consumption, especially nearing the festive Christmas season.

On Christmas Day, two people, visiting Venezuelan Jose Alexis Gonzalez, 38, and Danmatie Harrilal, 32, of Carapichaima, a mother of one, became victims of the country’s latest road fatalities, when the maxi-taxi in which they were travelling was involved in a three-vehicle smash-up on the Priority Bus Route, injuring several passengers, including children. A few days before 21-year-old Dion Patel, student, and Shivan Sookoo, son of RBTT bank CEO and managing director Suresh Sookoo, also died in an accident in Diego Martin, when the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed into a concrete embankment and flipped into the air. Similarly, within a three-day period, 24-year-old Joel Fuentes of Poole Village, Rio Claro, met his death with three others being injured after returning home from a party.

Concerned about the number of young people either being seriously injured or dying because of road accidents, Khan said there needs to be more education about driving in all secondary schools. “This major education campaign, will take the form of essay competitions and lectures,” he said. Khan said he will also be working closely with the Licensing Division to promote vigilance in delinquent motorists. He said there will also be more signs and road signals being put up at various road intersections. He felt that the cat-eyes system, in which cat-eyes can be seen lined along the roads in several parts of the country, has helped a lot of drivers. As a result, government has plans to expand this system Khan said.“What is needed most, however, is education. We seem to have a culture in which drivers seem to enjoy engaging in a lot of speeding,” he lamented.

Khan pointed out that some drivers don’t consider bad driving as a serious offence and the measures which people will begin to see from next year, will be to increase their awareness that careless drivers are potential criminals. “One life lost is one too many,” he said. He hopes that those measures will make people more vigilant on the roads and more co-operative with compliance of the traffic regulations. “Citizens must begin to be more disciplined and that includes young drivers. The parents too, must play a very important role here, in educating their teenaged drivers,” said Khan. One senior traffic officer said he does not understand why everyone has to be so reckless on the roads. “Speeding could be avoided and this culture of speeding is behaviour which must be changed,” he said.  

Transport Commissioner:  Please support the law reform

Transport Commissioner, Nathaniel Douglas, has appealed to all involved in passing laws, to support Government in trying to introduce the digital  camera and breathalyser system. He said even though Government has plans in place, the problem is the “bureaucratic red-tape” to ensure that the laws are established. Douglas said while education is important, law enforcement is more critical at this point.

“In a modern society such as ours, you need modern laws to deal with modern technology. By human nature, once there are no checks and balances, people will naturally break laws. Therefore, we have to have the required law enforcement and technology necessary for clamping down on delinquent motorists,” he explained. Speaking on the importance of public education, Douglas said from this year, the traffic department will be going into garages, companies and schools to educate them on road safety. He called on families also, to play a major role in educating drivers in their families, young and mature, on the importance of responsible driving practices.

He endorsed the Transport Minister’s plans to introduce the breathalyser and the laser/digital camera system and appealed to all involved in the law process, to support the due process needed to introduce these systems. Douglas pointed out that the much talked-about point system has been passed in Parliament and what is needed now are the regulation requirements. He hopes that this system will also become effective in soon.