Operation Vega: drink-driving still main traffic violation
Drink-driving continues to be the main traffic violation, police said yesterday.
In the latest figures from Operation Vega, drink-driving incidents between January and August this year have gone up by 30 when compared with the same time frame last year.
However, traffic offences on the whole fell by a third in August when compared with July.
The figures come after police warned that roadside sobriety tests would be in effect in each parish between yesterday and Monday.
Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell reminded the public that traffic initiatives such as Operation Vega were focused first and foremost on public safety and not about money.
He said: “Contrary to criticisms that Operation Vega is meant to generate revenue through issuing tickets, this initiative is geared specifically towards reducing harm on our roads.
“While we would much prefer road users comply with the laws governing the operation of a vehicle on the island’s roads, we must continue to do all we can to calm and slow things down with effective enforcement.”
Police this year clocked in 175 arrests for drink-driving, with 14 arrests in January; 27 in February; and 25 in March; along with 21, 30, 23, 19, and 16 in the following months.
This is compared with 145 drink-driving incidents last year between January and August.
(Changes from July in parentheses)
• Speeding 165 (-235)
• Ignoring traffic signs 46 (-32)
• Driving an unlicensed vehicle 24 (-42)
• Driving without third party insurance 18 (-35)
• Driving without a license 25 (-13)
• Dangerous driving 3 (-2)
• Driving while disqualified 2 (-3)
• Driving without a seatbelt 4 (0)
• Riding without a helmet 2 (-4)
• Driving with a handheld device 4 (-24)
• Driving a defective vehicle 0 (0)
• Failing to give a name and address 2 (+2)
• Failing to stop for police 1 (-5)
• Use of fraudulent documents 0 (0)
• Illegal tints 0 (0)
• Youth license offences 0 (0)
• Impaired driving 16 (-3)
Despite the rise, Mr Cardwell said that the 296 traffic tickets given throughout August were down when compared with the 683 given in July.
He added that the 16 drink-driving arrests made in August were three fewer than the previous month.
Officers also issued 73 warnings during August, down from 91 in July.
The most affected offence was speeding, with 165 speeding offences caught in August compared with 400 in July.
Since Operation Vega started in July 2021, 10,862 tickets have been issued for traffic offences.
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