There were no reported fatal road accidents on Old Year’s Night and early New Year’s Day and it may be that people are finally getting the message, the Police Traffic Branch says.
“It was a quiet night,” acting Cpl Selwyn Charles of Traffic Branch told the T&T Guardian.
“A few people were arrested for driving under the influence but no fatal road accidents were reported in Port-of-Spain and the East/West Corridor.”
Checks with the Central Division and South also revealed that, apart from a murder in Siparia, all was quiet on the roads in those areas, as well.
Acting ASP, Inspector Sooker of the Chaguanas Police Station, said though there were a couple of robberies, there were no fatal vehicular accidents in Central up to that time either.
“Somehow, I think people are kind of getting the message,” Cpl Charles said. He felt the rain was also helping out a bit.
“When it rains more people stay at home and there is less mobility,” he said.
Charles noted, however, that the drinking of alcohol associated with Christmas extends right into Carnival and he did not seem as optimistic about the coming season.
Up until December 25, 143 people were killed in road accidents. More than 2,000 have lost their lives in the past ten years in vehicular accidents.
As for other crimes, Sooker said another establishment with a roulette machine was robbed around 10 pm Old Year’s Night. The bandits made off with a large quantity of cash but were apprehended shortly after by Central Division officers.
And earlier in the day, around 10 am, three armed bandits held up a family in Perseverance and escaped with cash and jewelry. They were also arrested soon after.
Sooker said Central officers on routine patrol at 6.30 am, yesterday, in the Carlsen Field area also recovered a revolver from a man.
The man was acting suspiciously and when he saw the police officers approaching dropped a bag and ran into some bushes. The bag contained the revolver.