Dodgy driving spikes again over holiday weekend

| 16/06/2021 | 31 Comments
Cayman News Service
RCIPS officers carry out Operation Quaker

(CNS): As police continue Operation Quaker, the latest road safety campaign focusing on weekend driving, the holiday weekend saw an increase again in crashes and traffic offences after a decline during the previous regular weekend. Between 11 and 14 June, officers on Grand Cayman arrested 13 drunk drivers and issued around 60 tickets, mostly for speeding, and attended 25 road collisions, the majority of which were in George Town. This coming week the emphasis will be on Sunday activities during the day and late evening, targetting beachgoers and those coming from boozy brunches who make the poor decision to drive.

Meanwhile, on Cayman Brac traffic police also carried out vehicle check points, placing a focus on traffic violations. Just last week, over 15 tickets were issued by the CBPS officers, most of them for speeding. These results have occurred despite persistent efforts to raise awareness about trending road safety issues and violations that have been observed by the police.

“Since the start of Operation Quaker, we have received tremendous support from members of the public,” said Superintendent Brad Ebanks. “I am encouraging everyone to continue to report road violations when you see them, especially drivers who appear to be DUI or driving at a speed and manner that puts the public at risk. The best way to make reports is by calling 911.”


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Category: Local News

Comments (31)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Drivers here are not used to law enforcement and most likely never will be. Why is anyone surprised now? A large percentage of those still on island are not law abiding people and don’t care who knows it. Just like a lot of the leadership. Not gonna change any day soon. It is one of the many things Cayman Islands are known for. Driving here will only get worse before it gets better.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Criminalize drunk driving in boats and road vehicles. Problem solved.

  3. Anonymous says:

    What we really need is a sustained (ongoing) National Traffic Safety Campaign. It needs to be 24 x 7, 365 days a year. And not only the RCIPS. We need all of the elected representatives, churches, schools, service clubs, corporations, businesse, sports clubs, bars, restaurants, NRA, etc. to be involved. In other words… EVERYONE!
    We have had some attempts over the years by MattSafe, Road Safety Advisory Council, StreetSkill, etc., but most of these have come and gone.
    The crashes continue… people are killed, people are injured, people are inconvenienced, property is damaged… yet we don’t seem to learn.
    We can do better. We MUST do better.

  4. Anonymous says:

    will keep asking:
    my dashcam records hundred of incidents of dangerous driving every week.
    why do rcips not want this footage?
    why would a police department not want clear evidence of people breaking the law?
    if i had video footage or robberies, would they want the footage?
    will wait for answers

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe stop posing the questions here.

      Take your footage to the traffic department. Record your visit, and see how it goes.

      Then, get back to us all here.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      I suggest you copy your footage onto a stick, write your name and phone number on the stick, and carry it to the applicable district RCIPS office.

      Thank you for your assistance!

    • Anonymous says:

      Unless you can get clear footage of the DRIVER and he or she is able to be identified, the Department of public prosecutions won’t charge anyone.

      The vehicle owner isn’t charged if their vehicle is seen on a camera running a red light (for example). The driver would be prosecuted. If your footage can’t ID the driver, it’s useless. That what the traffic law says.

      Dash cameras are still a great tool for accidents so I have one just in case.

  5. Anonymous says:

    13 DUIs, after people were explicitly told that enforcement was going to be stepped up.

    It really shows the depth of the issue here. Basically, it seems well accepted that driving drunk is just fine. This isn’t a police thing, this is a societal one.

    • Anonymous says:

      Taxi mafia needs lower prices and cops need to be more active.

    • Anonymous says:

      Give me Uber or Flex and I’ll stop.

      • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

        Troll.

        I hope you don’t stop because you’ve killed somebody.

        As I said last time you posted this nonsense, I think you’re just trolling for shits and giggles. If you are seriously saying to us that you will continue to drive drunk until you have Uber or Flex to carry your sorry ass home, then I think you’re a POS that doesn’t deserve any consideration. I hope and pray you are caught and soon.

        I have lost a loved one from a drunk driver, a productive person with a family whose life was ended by a piece of trash just like you are espousing.

        Grow up. Be a responsible adult.

      • Anonymous says:

        Or you’ll get locked up eventually and the court will take away your license and force you to stop.

        And then I’ll laugh. Dat wha you get.

    • Concerned says:

      Exactly. Which is why RCIPS can’t let up. People have been dying on the roads and it took an ex-pat nurse to be tragically taken to get their arses out on the roads.
      But credit where credit us due, they are now taking it seriously. This needs to be maintained for at least 12 months. As the figures of DUIs will then show, the issue of DUI is endemic in Cayman society. Then the focus must turn to the judiciary/legislature to strengthen the penalties and sentencing of these individuals. RCIPS should also have a plan to catch disqualified drivers after sentencing. They WILL get behind the wheel while banned which then also means they won’t be insured.
      I am glad they have finally started to act because it was a only a matter of time until someone ‘influential’ was killed or injured and a civil law suit would follow due to their ineptitude.
      RCIPS keep up the good work.

      • Anonymous says:

        ‘RCIPS should also have a plan to catch disqualified drivers after sentencing’

        This in spades. A dedicated unit of 4 good officers. Plot up, wait for them, pounce, arrest, put them before the court. Crush their cars or sell them for buttons at auction. They’ll only do it once.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Sorry, but I have called 911 and the RCIP a few times over recent years to report serious road risk issues and instead of focusing on the issue or responding to an incident, they were more concerned about getting my birth date, address, full name etc etc.
    Needless to say by the time you go through all of that the culprits get away. They simply couldn’t be bothered or weren’t interested; therefore I stopped trying to be a concerned citizen wanting to assist.
    I’m pleased they are back out on the road doing checkpoints, but would be happier if they we’re out on a consistent basis and not just reactive “operations” a few times a year!

    • Anonymous says:

      SAME! I flat out say, why does my info matter? Get the call to patrols out now or blood could be on your hands.

      • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

        It is unfortunate, however they need that info, or otherwise people will call in false reports just to fool with the police and their resources.

        If you see something, when you call, tell them first the location, the license plate of the offending vehicle, and that you will keep your eyes on them for as long as you are able. Then you can give them the required info. This has worked for me in the past. It’s not a perfect system.

        • Anonymous says:

          Sorry but I have to disagree profusely. There is no need spend five minutes trying to get information out of me instead of calling in the report. They will not need my information to prosecute the driver because it is up to them to catch them doing something illegal.

    • Anonymous says:

      They want your info so they can tell their friends who “snitching”

  7. Anonymous says:

    I seriously don’t understand why anyone would need to drink and drive here. Even if you live in the centre of George Town, it’s likely at MOST a 30 minute walk home if you want to drink by the ocean.

    During my university days in Canada, we would drunkenly stumble home on foot in the winter. We were too broke to afford the $20 cab fare, so we just walked..

  8. Anonymous says:

    While we appreciate the push can we stop calling your daily job by a quirky nickname? Also, more speed traps are needed on the bypasses.

    • Anonymous says:

      The bypasses…ah, yes, like Red Bay. Where as you head east, you can either carry on directly through Red Bay (with lower posted limit, several junctions with residential streets, a school, several businesses) or use the bypass.

      The amount of traffic I see at the Chrissie Tomlinson roundabout that just drives through RB, despite a 2/3 lane bypass, blows my mind.

      I get that many live in the RB area, but many don’t and just drive through. Just why??? If you travel at the speed limit it’s much faster and safer to use the bypass.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Every day you drive on Cayman roads is a dodgy day.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I think in the sister island, people are just trying to get to 88mph, in order to go Brac to the Future.

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