Bring on the breathalyser and radar system

A Driving instructor for the past 31 years is calling upon the Government, the Ministry of Transport and their appropriate agents to have implemented immediately the Breathalyser and the Radar system along with defensive driving courses for all drivers, including learner drivers.

Dennis Williams made the appeal in his address at a graduation exercise on defensive driving  held at Dennis and Leela’s Driving School office, Sangre Chiquito, on Saturday. Williams said lack of enforcement of the law and public drivers education are some of the factors which contribute to the increase in traffic accidents on the nation’s roadways. Williams, a driving instructor and lecturer in defensive driving for the past 31 years, said that road safety has always been on his mind. He was therefore making every effort to see the system come into play so that motorists and pedesterians would enjoy a better and safer traffic system in TT.

At present,  Williams is involved in a series of lectures on defensive driving,  and over 400 participants have graduated since the introduction of the course. One of the criteria that is now requested by the Ministry of Transport for operating a maxi taxi is to be certified in defensive driving. He said it was time that the law be enforced so that people would understand that when they violate traffic laws they could lose their driver’s permits. Driving along the highways on a daily basis, Williams said one would see light motor vehicles and extra heavy vehicles being driven above the speed limit, over taking dangerously on the road shoulders, with materials at times falling off the vehicles, having absolutely no regard for other drivers and the lives of commuters. He emphasised the only time drivers would be cautious is when there is a speed trap or the presence of policemen, otherwise they continue with lawless driving, causing accidents and loss of lives in the process.