Police Traffic Department to be equipped with speed guns

Speeding remains the number one cause for many fatal crashes on the island, but the Police are prepared to work towards significantly lowering this in 2016 and beyond.

Inspector Dexter Felix of the Traffic Department has said that the Force is preparing to deal with the instrument to assist with the procurement of speed guns that will be utilized to measure speed on the roadways.

“A small contingent from the Traffic Department visited Trinidad and studied the Police there and were able to understand how they go about measuring speed along the highways,” he explained.

Felix believes that the speed guns will help to reduce accidents in a major way in Saint Lucia and help to encourage drivers to adhere to speed limits, and caution them against speeding.

While admitting that the police continue to have challenges when it comes to the Bexon highway, Felix said certain measures have been put in place to reduce speed in that area.

He spoke to the erection of speed bumps and traffic safety signs, close to the Bexon School, where a child lost his life. There are also constant traffic patrols. But despite these efforts some persons are still not adhering to the rules.

Despite these challenges, the traffic official said ever since these systems have been implemented, there has been a reduction in the number of calls made to the police in relation to accidents in that area.

Meanwhile, another area which Felix said the police hopes to tackle this year is drunk driving. The police inspector said serious attention will be given to this area during discussions within the Force.

“We also studied Trinidad’s Driving under the Influence (DUI) response and how the breathalyzers are helping them and we would be looking at that this year,” he stated.

It was reminded that drivers should at all times adhere to speed limits which are provided through the Traffic Act. The speed limit for highways is 40 mph and in Castries is 25 mph.

With the expansion of the Castries-Gros Islet Highway, the Traffic Department is hoping that this will help to ease the traffic congestion, especially during peaks hours and reduce accidents.