A week after a man was killed and three others injured in a head-on collision in George Town, police are resuming their Operation Quaker traffic enforcement measures in a bid to cut down on speeding and drunk driving at night.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said in a press release that, from Friday, 22 Oct., it will be refocusing its traffic enforcement operations to target night-time speeding and DUIs, especially in areas where serious traffic incidents have been occurring.
The accident on South Church Street, near Parsons Circle, on 16 Oct., in which 37-year-old Filipino Carlos Luyang Patricio was killed, was the second fatal crash on that road this year. On 23 May, 32-year-old American Kiarah Shikale Perkins died in a collision near Palm Springs condos.
Police said the renewed focus of Operation Quaker will involve an increased police presence and traffic enforcement at known hot spots, including speeding enforcement at various locations, along with vehicle checkpoints and high-visibility patrols, the RCIPS said.
Superintendent Brad Ebanks said in the release, “Despite our efforts, we continue to see irresponsible and dangerous driving behaviours, particularly motorists ignoring speed limits, and passing other vehicles in inappropriate situations. These actions result in not only putting their own lives at risk, but that of their passengers and other road users.
“Within a very short period this year, there has been two fatal accidents on South Church Street. This is 30 MPH road, and rightly so when considering the narrow lanes and multiple hazards, including driveways, trees and intersecting roadways, that can impede motorists’ visibility and ability to react quickly when needed. This road is characteristic of many roads in Cayman, where dangerous driving is especially risky and irresponsible, putting all road users in danger.”
Inspector Dwayne Jones, head of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit, said when officers attend major traffic incidents or when someone loses their life as a result of a fatal collision, speeding and/or driving under the influence are almost always a contributing factor.
“It’s also important to remember that motorists are not the only road users, and to consider the heightened risk dangerous driving presents for the more vulnerable road users such as cyclists, runners, walkers and children – especially on roads where there are no sidewalks to utilise,” he said.
In the release, the RCIPS reminded the public that the penalty for speeding is a fine of $20 for every mile per hour over the speed limit you are found to be travelling. If the total fine exceeds $500, the driver must attend court, and, on conviction is liable to have his or her licence suspended for a minimum of 12 months, along with the fine.
The legal blood-alcohol limit in the Cayman Islands is 0.1%. Anyone who is breathalysed and found to have a blood-alcohol content at or exceeding that amount is subject to arrest, and upon conviction is liable to a fine of $1,000, and the loss of their driver’s licence for at last 12 months. The penalties increase if the driver has previous DUI convictions.
“Not only do these offences risk your life and the lives of those around you, they also carry stiff penalties when you are caught,” Chief Inspector Malcolm Kay of Specialist Operations said. “More importantly, if you are the cause of a fatal or serious collision, your life will be permanently affected from almost every perspective. We appeal to everyone to slow down and not to drink and drive – don’t put yourself in a position where you have to face the consequences.”
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Operation Quaker should never have stopped. It’s sad that someone has to die for the traffic division to step up and do what they are meant to do. I’m guessing OQ will fizzle out in a couple of weeks ?
First of all, the legal limit here is higher than most everywhere else in the world. Then, IF caught,
the offender is SUBJECT to penalties. I heard of an incident where the drunk driver was asked by RCIP if “his job would be in jeopardy if arrested” of course the offender said “yes” so they were let go!
Secondly, the penalties for drunk driving are not severe enough to deter people from driving drunk. POSSIBLE arrest, fine, and loss of license? Why not immediate penalties? Furthermore, a fine of $1,000 is not even close to a deterrent! Most of these offenders spend close to that on their bar tab in a weekend!
If the fine for not having your dog on a leash is $4,000 (which is fantastic) why on earth is a drunk driver who is not only endangering their lives, but mine and everyone else walking, driving, and cycling on the road, let off with a fraction of this!?!?
Something MUST be done about the speeding and reckless/drunk driving here. I am overtaken constantly when going the speed limit on West Bay Rd. Even when it is not safe with oncoming cars in close proximity. I am tailgated daily when driving the speed limit. I see cars racing and swerving around cars on the Esterly Tibbitts bypass every time I drive on that road.
Innocent people are dying and it doesn’t seem to be changing.