Editorial for November 22: Expect increase in police patrols

If you plan to do a bit of driving this holiday season,
get prepared for an increased police presence on the road.

Beginning today, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service
is stepping up its road safety efforts.

The annual festival road crackdown – a seven-week
campaign of enforcement and education designed to make the roads of the Cayman
Islands safer – is now officially under way.

Those of us who were on the roadways this past weekend
and during Pirates Week already saw an increase in patrol cars on our roadways.

But beginning today, those patrols will become more
visible, static road checks will be set up, unmarked vehicles will be prowling
the roads, radar equipment will be put into full use and there will be targeted
operations to discourage drink driving and to catch those who are breaking the
law by doing so.

This year the police are even getting our children
involved by visiting schools to deliver road safety presentations.

It is hoped that if police are able to get the message
about safe driving habits across early to children, they will be safer drivers
when they reach the age to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The Cayman Islands has a history of losing members of our
society to death on the roadways through speeding, drink driving and other bad
habits.

All of those deaths were senseless and unnecessary.

The families that have been left behind will find
themselves grieving once again as they go through another Christmas without
their loved ones.

So we implore everyone to take the next few weeks
seriously as you traverse our roadways. Don’t drink and drive, mind your speed,
be courteous and employ your safest driving habits.

We’re all under stress at this time of year in particular
because of searching for those just-right gifts, planning perfect parties and
dealing with traffic and bad drivers.

Help do your part to keep our roadways safe this holiday
season and then carry those good driving habits into the New Year.