UPDATE: Senior RVIPF Officer blames weak laws for traffic woes
He made the comment yesterday January 28, 2014 during a press conference where he was among other senior officers of the RVIPF.
At that press conference, he expressed that view that the rules of traffic are being ignored to the greater extent because of the many weak areas of the obsolete legislation. To illustrate his point, he said that example if the meagre amount of $50 fine for riding without a helmet.
“It’s not only about motorcycles. It’s about our law, the abuse to our traffic legislation. It’s about [wearing the seat belt]. It’s about the cellular phone usage…” he noted.
Commissioner of Police Mr David Morris also alluded to the need for penalties to be more severe.
It was also brought out at the press conference that the majority of violators of traffic laws are persons of the 25 years old bracket.
See previous story posted January 28, 2014:
Motorcycle accidents on the decline– CI Kenrick Headley
- But says figure still alarming
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Royal Virgin Police Force (RVIPF) Chief Inspector Mr Kenrick Headley is not keen on pulling down the red flag on motorcycle accidents occurring in the Virgin Islands (VI) despite figures showing that there has been a decline in the numbers over the past years.
Mr Headley made the statement at a press conference held in the conference room of the RVIPF Head Quarters earlier today January 28, 2014 where he was joined by other top officials in the Police Force.
He reported that from the period 2011 to date there was a total of five fatalities involving motorcyclists: 1 in 2011 and 2012 each, 2 in 2013 and one so far in 2014. “We have a concern for the accidents that have occurred recently and on top of that we had just on Sunday two tourists suffered injuries,” he emphasised.
Of 1219 traffic collisions for 2013 alone, 37 involved motor cycles, he said. “Now you would see that in the last three years we would have been steadily decreasing the amount of accidents but they are still alarming taking into consideration that we had over 15,000 vehicles registering in the territory,” said Headley.
In their bid to put a grip on the current challenges being faced in the traffic division of the RVIPF Mr Headley says that it is their firm belief that if they are to partner with some key stakeholders there can be a reduction in the number of traffic collisions and road fatalities in the territory.
The senior RVIPF officer said that the concerns about the use of motorcycles have not evaded the department’s ears to the extent that with the assistance of public spirited persons, some 13 illegal motorcycles were confiscated by the department.
“..Those were motorcycles above the 500 cc and that is a lot to me, why? Because these motorcycles are not permitted on our roads, they are not to be imported, or to be used,” emphasised Mr Headley.
He said that in the traffic department alone for 2013, some 517 complaints were placed before the court for traffic violations. Of that figure 328 have already been disposed according to Mr Headley.
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32 Responses to “UPDATE: Senior RVIPF Officer blames weak laws for traffic woes”
How can you come to that conclusion when we done bury two for the year and one in wait just 27 days into january???? I mussss be living on Mars!!!!!
Since you got so much sense and ain no dunce, do you know what probability???
Go and research to connection between this story and probability, fool.
And, yes, of course there are many accidents that are not reported, but one can only work with what is reported. My own opinion is that driving in the BVIs is out of control. If it was up to me, radar guns with fines starting at $ 500, a points system (3 points per speeding ticket or reckless driving, 6 points in a rolling 12 month period equals a 6 month suspension), DUI laws with the same penalties as in the US, etc. Everyone forgets that driving is a privilege not a right, but hereabouts, there just aren't any consequences for failing to comply with the laws that we all have to pass a written test on (other than killing or maiming someone else). Enough of this madness!
1 scooter death in 2011 with 38 motor cycle accidents
1 scooter death in 2012 with 44 motor cycle accidents
1 scooter death and 1 motor car death in 2013 with 37 scooter accidents
1 scooter death 2014
Total 5 fatalities in 3 yrs 1 months 4 scooter related i motor car
Traffic accidents reported 2011 was 1240
Traffic accidents reported 2012 was 1222
Traffic accidents reported 2013 was 1219
from the stats, accidents went from 1240 in 2011 to 1219 a decrease by 21 over the 3 yr period
Hope you can appreciate my interpretation of the what is reported
Of course, if you're dumb enough to ride a bike without a helmet, then that ratio will increase, because you are more likely to get dead. Same as with grandstanding, jumping red lights and generally being a d**k on the road.
The figures also reflected what was reported, not what occurred , as I would assume that all accidents are not reported.
My personal observation is that three of the four fatalities involving scooters were actually accidents that happen because the scooter rider were just riding recklessly and cause their own death, no body hit them, they cashed into objects, one into a vehicle that was stopped. They died as a result of their own negligence . Nobody get charge for their death so nobody cause their death but themselves.
He is right. The traffic laws need updating. Look how in the BVI people don't indicate. Look how people just stop and hitch rides where ever they want on a two-lane highway. This is something you NEVER do in any other country of the world but here people so arrogant they decide to just stop and the passengers get in and out real slow. Change the laws AND enforce them.
And don't study all the paid political fools who just blame everything on NDP or that 'white' police dude. So busy blaming they don't take any notice of the story itself.