Fuad calls for increased police presence

In a letter yesterday, Khan said it was interesting to see members of the police coming out in full force to ensure law and order occurred on the roads leading into the capital city.

He said had it not been for their extreme diligence, scores of drivers could not have been charged for disobeying the laws of the roadways while on their commute to and from work.

Khan said that while some may consider this action as being more disruptive and hampering to the normal flow of traffic, it is clear that these police checkpoints were not only necessary in apprehending errant drivers, but also ensured that they all drove at a speed that limited vehicle accidents to mere fender benders, rather than the type of accidents that claimed so many lives each year.

He said following the decision to remove traffic lights along the highway and main roads, it became apparent that drivers were using this too conveniently and, as such, police checkpoints have now become necessary to manually slow down reckless drivers.

The MP said while extra manpower would cost the Police Service more, he was sure it was Government’s overall plan to revitalise the economy through aggressive ticketing.

However, he said as a result of his experience during a trip to the North Coast last weekend, it would seem that the police may be missing an opportunity to capitalise on these types of events, based on the number of errant drivers who were also visiting the beach.

“As a result of persons parked illegally along the roadway, as well as committing other infractions, myself along with many other drivers were forced to endure up to three hours of traffic in getting to and from the beach.

While the route itself is restrictive and insufficient to deal with the crowds that holidays attract, the lack of police presence allowed persons to drive and park in an unregulated manner, which only aggravated the problem,” Khan said.