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UPDATE: Operation Winter Guardian Prioritizes Road Safety, 27 December

27th December, 2024 Police Headlines

UPDATE (27 December):

This week, RCIPS officers responded to 36 MVAs, made 4 DUI arrests, and prosecuted 30 persons for various other driving offenses, as part of Operation Winter Guardian. The holiday safety campaign continues this weekend and into next week, with increased police visibility and enforcement, and the focus of the remaining week of the campaign will be on road safety and traffic enforcement.

 

“The entire community has been shocked by the two fatal single-vehicle collisions which occurred yesterday,” says Chief Superintendent Brad Ebanks. “It is truly a tragedy every single time someone loses their life on our roads.”

 

“However, I must say that the behaviour we have recently been observing on the roads has been appalling. There have been 14 road fatalities for this year, with 4 being in December alone. Clearly, there has been a deterioration of driving standards, and even multiple fatal collisions do not seem to have had any impact on the behaviour of many road users, who continue to display a disregard for road safety. 

 

“As such, in addition to the officers that are already deployed on Operation Winter Guardian, we are placing even more officers on duty specifically targeting unsafe drivers who speed or drive under the influence, with a zero tolerance approach.”

 

“Even with the enforcement and educational efforts of the police and our partners, the engineering efforts of the NRA, and the legislative efforts of the government, the reality is that we must all, as individual drivers, take responsibility for the decisions we make once we get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Lives are on the line.”


UPDATE (23 December)

RCIPS’ holiday safety operation, Winter Guardian, continues this week with increased police visibility and enforcement, particularly on the roads and in commercial areas. During this past weekend, officers responded to 27 vehicle collisions and made 4 DUI arrests, with an additional person arrested for failing to provide a specimen. Over 290 vehicles were stopped and checked at vehicle check points across the island. Since the operation began on 16 December, 70 persons have been prosecuted for various traffic offenses, including 10 for using a mobile phone while driving. Members of the public should expect additional vehicle checkpoints this week, as the RCIPS continues to encourage the public to practice safe driving behaviours.

 

“As we enter Christmas week, we would like to emphasise the importance of personal responsibility for all road users,” says Chief Superintendent Brad Ebanks. “It’s your responsibility to plan ahead, whether you are attending a Christmas party or otherwise going out for a drink, to ensure that you are not drinking and driving. We have extra officers on the roads who are focusing on persons driving under the influence, speeding, or engaging in other dangerous driving practices. If you want to avoid being prosecuted over the holidays, you should take the necessary measures to avoid driving under the influence, and thus minimise the risks to you and others using the roadways.”

 


Initial Release (20 December):

RCIPS annual Winter Guardian campaign kicked off Monday 16 December, and only five days in, police have already attended 61 MVA’s and made nine arrests for DUI.

 

With the weekend upon us, it is vital that persons carefully consider their driving behavior.  If you are drinking, don’t get behind the wheel.  And if you are driving, particularly at night, be considerate of other road users, and obey the speed limits. 

 

With Christmas only five days away we want everyone to arrive home safely to enjoy the festive season with loved ones. 

 

Drive Safe Cayman.

 

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