Motorists are being given more time to get into the habit of driving within the speed limit of 80kph as acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams is yet to give directives to police officers to enforce the law.
This was announced by public information officer of the Police Service, acting ASP Michael Pierre, during yesterday’s weekly police briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain.
Pierre, however, could not say how soon police officers would begin intercepting drivers exceeding the speed limit and issuing speeding tickets.
“I would like you to know in due course those speed guns would be out there so at this time you (drivers) have some time to practise driving within the speed limit and keeping the roadways in T&T safe,” Pierre said.
When told that police officers were seen atop a flyover along the Uriah Butler Highway on Tuesday using one of the six speed guns acquired, Pierre said it was only a test run... “testing the use of the equipment.” He, however, advised the public to know that the police were going to put it into effect regardless of the fact that no time frame had been given.
“We are asking members of the public when you practise something over a period of time it becomes perfected. I am suggesting practise driving within the speed limit in the meantime,” Pierre said. He emphasised that the law, called the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, was already written in the legislative book.
“It is not there to look at. It is there for members of the public to adhere to, just like any other law directed to the public. Therefore, we, as responsible citizens, know that when we read what is written there that is what we should adhere to it,” he added.
The order to establish speed guns on the nation’s highways was published on Friday and went into effect immediately, according to the Minister of Works and Transport Fitzgerald Hinds.
Hinds 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.
Efforts to reach Williams for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.