The speed of motorists across the nation is expected to be measured by speed guns today as the use of the device is now law.
The order to establish speed guns on the nation’s highways was published on Friday and went into effect immediately, Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said yesterday.
But while NGO Arrive Alive welcomed the initiative, it said yesterday several other measures were required to ensure the roads were safer for all users, including a holistic approach to an increase in the speed limit, which now is 80 kph.
Hinds said the order to allow for speed guns to be used on the nation’s highways was now legally in place.
On Friday, Hinds told a news conference the measure was expected to take effect yesterday.
He said then it was being implemented to save lives on the nation’s roads, as 55 per cent of the fatalities were caused by speeding. The minister confirmed he signed the order Friday and it was published in the Gazette on the same day.
Hinds said it was effectively implemented since last week Friday.
“As we speak it is now the law of Trinidad and Tobago and obviously it was operational from the time it was published,” he added.
But despite the measure being put into legal effect there were no visible signs of the devices being used on the highways yesterday. Many motorists drove at slower speeds yesterday.
Hinds praised the staff of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for the efficiency in having Legal Order 60 expedited.
Asked if the police were already using the device on the nation’s roads, he said he was “unable to say whether the police officers were on the highway but the law permitted them to be and to use the speed-measuring device.”
Checks to locate officers using the devise proved futile yesterday as none was spotted. However, there is expected to be a noticeable presence of officers using the device on the highways today.
It will allow officers to record the speed at which motorists were driving at designated areas and provide for an instant email to be sent to other officers a short distance away. There is a ticketed fine of $1,000 for speeding.
Review speed limit
President of Arrive Alive, Sharon Inglefield, says the group is not opposed to calls for an increase in the speed limit but it should be done after a holistic assessment by road traffic engineers in the ministry.
She said while road safety progress has been made and continued to be made increasing the speed limit “without a proper examination of all the factors is a recipe for disaster, with further horrific collisions and the resultant fatalities.”
She said the NGO was calling for the Government and other authorities “to give urgent consideration to this most pressing issue.”
She also urged motorists to “obey our road traffic laws and to take responsibility for our own safety and the safety of other road users.”
Inglefield said road safety required action to be taken on other issues, such as:
• Reform of the Licensing system to include defensive driving and risk management.
• Driving under the influence enforcement.
• Amendment of the Motor Vehicle Road Traffic Act.
• Significantly increased police enforcement of existing traffic laws.
Amendments coming
Hinds said on Friday that the Parliament would soon debate amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act.
The Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (speed Measuring Device) Order 2016 says in part:
• The minister approves the LTI 20/20 TtuCAM Lidar, manufactured by Laser Technology Inc, as a device measuring the speed at which a person is driving a motor vehicle.”
It was signed by Hinds.
Many drivers said yesterday they welcomed the initiative if it helped in saving lives but they expressed concern about the 80 kph speed limit.
They said they would be more cautious on the roads as the measure was implemented. They said, however, they expected more congestion on the roads during morning and afternoon peak hours.
Review speed limit
President of Arrive Alive, Sharon Inglefield, says the group is not opposed to calls for an increase in the speed limit but it should be done after a holistic assessment by road traffic engineers in the ministry.
She said while road safety progress has been made and continued to be made increasing the speed limit “without a proper examination of all the factors is a recipe for disaster, with further horrific collisions and the resultant fatalities.”
She said the NGO was calling for the Government and other authorities “to give urgent consideration to this most pressing issue.”
She also urged motorists to “obey our road traffic laws and to take responsibility for our own safety and the safety of other road users.”
Inglefield said road safety required action to be taken on other issues, such as:
• Reform of the Licensing system to include defensive driving and risk management.
• Driving under the influence enforcement.
• Amendment of the Motor Vehicle Road Traffic Act.
• Significantly increased police enforcement of existing traffic laws.