Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 5, 2023 (ZIZ Newsroom): The Traffic Department has reported that there has been an increase in traffic accidents with 24 accidents being recorded in one week which includes fatal and non-fatal accidents.
That’s according to Sergeant Sophia Henry during her appearance on ZIZ radio’s “On the Road” programme on Wednesday.
“We are seeing an increase in accidents for last week alone. Traffic department-I’m not speaking about the outstation traffic department -dealt with about 24 accidents just in one week.”
She also noted the number of fatalities for the year so far.
“For the year so far, we have four fatalities. District B, have two, and District A has two. Nevis division doesn’t have any.”
Sergeant Henry spoke about the penalty that occurs from reckless driving and noted that every class of accident comes with a fine.
“Reckless driving, the person can be fined up to $5,000 or imprisonment with or without hard labor for a term not exceeding six months or both fine and confinement so we can’t go above that. So each class of accident has their fine.”
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ radio at 9:30 am during the “Morning Show” with GCue.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 25, 2023 (ZIZ Newsroom):Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a significant public health problem that not only affects the alcohol user but also other parties such as passengers and pedestrians.
This according to Sergeant Sophia Henry from the Traffic Department during her appearance on the ZIZ radio programme “On the Road” on Wednesday(May 24, 2023).
She stated that driving while under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime that can result in an accident.
“Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, whether it’s a car, a truck, a motorcycle or any other motorized vehicle after consuming alcohol is a serious crime. It impairs the person’s ability to have control of the vehicle, and sometimes this can result in a crash or a road traffic accident. When this happens, sometimes persons will come out with injury, death or disability.”
Inspector Karlene Phipps who is also from the Traffic Department outlined all the driving under the influence offences.
“If a person drives a motor vehicle, if he attempts to drive, if he or she is in charge of that vehicle on a road having consumed such a quantity that the proportion of his/her blood exceeds the prescribed limit or if he or she is under the influence of drinks or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle.”
She also mentioned the prescribed limit of alcohol one can consume in order to operate a vehicle according to the law.
“The prescribed limit for driving under the influence is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. In the urine, it’s 107 milligrams in 100 millilitres of urine.”
Inspector Phipps noted that in the Federation the most commonly used method to test for alcohol is through blood and urine samples.
She also mentioned that any police officer in uniform conducting a routine traffic stop can request a blood sample or alcohol test.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 14th 2021 (ZIZ News) The traffic department is reminding motorists that there is to be no tinting on vehicles unless it’s at a particular percentage.
Traffic Officer, Donaly Liburd-Chiverton while on ZIZ Radio’s programme “On the Road” on Wednesday said that persons are still committing the offence of having dark tinted windows on their vehicles.
She referenced the section of the Vehicle Road and Traffic Act that explains the percentage at which a vehicle can be tinted.
“In this section restricted motor vehicles means any vehicle other than a motorcycle where the whole or the part of the glass of the windscreen, side or rear windows is obscured by either the application of any film, tint or other device or is custom tinted by the manufacturer that less than 35% of light transmission is possible. What this is clearly saying to us is that once your vehicle is tinted anything that is 35% and below is against the law. The law says one must be able to stay from the outside and see inside of the vehicle clearly.”
For persons who bought their vehicles with a dark tint, she said the Licencing Authority is not responsible for those vehicles, the responsibility lies with the registered owner of the vehicle.
“The Licensing Authority is not responsible for you having a dark tinted vehicle in your possession meaning…you are now the registered owner of that vehicle and so therefore the onus is upon you to make sure that the tinting on that vehicle is in accordance with the regulation.”
Officer Liburd-Chiverton said, in the instance of persons borrowing other people’s vehicles with dark tints, if caught, the driver at the time will be served the ticket not the owner of the vehicle.
“At the time you are the one who is driving the vehicle and so you become the one responsible. It is true that you are not the registered owner but when you’re borrowing your sister’s vehicle or your uncle’s truck- you must make sure that the tyres are in order, the breaks are in order, the tinting of the vehicle is in order because you at that time is responsible because if a ticket is issued it would not be issued to the owner, it would be issue to you-the driver, so you become responsible.”
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ radio and streamed live on all social media platforms.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 8th 2021 (ZIZ News) Pedestrians also have a responsibility to be safe on the road.
That’s according to Traffic Officer, Donaly Liburd-Chiverton during her appearance on the ZIZ Radio programme “On the Road” on Wednesday.
She explained that when an accident occurs between a vehicle and a pedestrian some persons may believe that only the motorist would be at fault. However this is not so in all cases.
Officer Liburd-Chiverton also added that if a pedestrian is at fault and might have sustained injuries during the accident they are still required to pay for damages to the motorist’s vehicle.
She urged persons to not put themselves in a position where accidents with motorists can occur.
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ Radio at 8:30am during the “Morning Show” with Gcue. It is also streamed live on ZIZ’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
–
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 31st, 2021 (ZIZ News) The Public Works Department is continuing their public awareness campaign on the changes that will occur once the new traffic lights are in operation.
One such change will be the pedestrian crossing at KFC on the Bay Road being removed.
During Wednesday’s edition of ZIZ radio’s programme “On The Road” Engineer in the Public Works Department, Livingston Pemberton said persons will then have to use the crossings at the lights.
“On The Road” airs every Wednesday at 8:30am on ZIZ Radio during the “Morning Show” with GCue. The programme is also streamed live on ZIZ’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 13th, 2021 (ZIZ News) After announcing traffic changes in areas of Basseterre when the new traffic lights are in operation, Engineer at the Public Works Department, Livingston Pemberton said there will also be changes to areas where persons can park.
He was speaking on Wednesday’s edition of ZIZ Radio’s “On the Road” programme.
He mentioned a number alternative parking areas.
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ radio at 8:30am during the “Morning Show” with GCue. It is also streamed live on ZIZ’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
]]>
Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 17th, 2021 (ZIZ News) The Traffic Department is reminding drivers who are transporting children under 14 years old that there are seatbelt and car seat laws that are in place and are being enforced.
Speaking on the most recent edition of ‘On the Road’ with Gcue on the ‘Morning Show’ Traffic Officer Donaly Liburd- Chiverton said the department is enforcing this particular law.
She said driving with a child in the back or front of a vehicle without a seatbelt is a traffic offense.
She said the law also speaks to the transportation of children under the age of five.
Officer Liburd- Chiverton said when someone is found breaking these laws, they will be not be allowed to continue driving in the same way and will be asked to find alternative ways to transport the child.
She noted that a $200 fine is attached to the breaking of Seatbelt and car seat laws in the federation.
On the Road with Gcue airs every Wednesday at 8:30 am on ZIZ Radio.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 6th, 2020 (ZIZ News) The Ministry of Public Infrastructure announced on Tuesday that traffic lights will be erected at seven areas in Basseterre but the lights going up in one of these areas are cause for concern for some persons.
On the first “On the Road-Traffic Talk”episode for the new year, Chief Engineer in the Public Works Department, George Gilbert sought to address the complaint the traffic lights being placed on the Bay Road by the Port Zante roundabout are too close to the lights by the old Treasury building.
“Yes we recognize that they are close to each other, we’ve raised that concern but from the study done we realize that…apparently because of Covid the boats are not coming in how they should but as soon as things return to normal you would have a large outflow from Port Zante in terms of traffic, taxis coming out there when the ships arrive.”
While responding to a caller’s question, he said the department will be monitoring the area to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
“What we’ll do is synchronize the light so the flow with each other and we’ll monitor it too….that comment was raised even by myself it was raised and we are going to look at it carefully, we’re going to ensure the synchronizing is done to ensure that we have the best value and the traffic is flowing without any obstruction.”
Gilbert said all traffic lights are expected to be erected by the end of March.
“On the Road- Traffic Talk” airs every Wednesday morning at 8:30am during “The Morning Show” with GCue.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 9, 2020 (ZIZ News):The traffic department is continuing its campaign to sensitize the general public on issues and solutions that affect pedestrians and motorists on the road.
On Wednesday’s edition of “On the Road” Second in Command at the Traffic Department Inspector Phillip Eddy was joined by Constables Daniel John and Anson Belle-Carty from the Traffic Department to speak on their experience with dealing with traffic accidents.
Constable John explained that the most common traffics accidents are collisions from the rear.
He also spoke of the procedures that are carried out by officers when investigating an accident.
“Well first thing is first, make sure everybody is safe, no one is injured, then you go to get the explanation, measurements, damages and serving notices.”
Constable Belle-Carty added that the officers would also check licenses and insurance policies and advised that officers on the scene must pay close attention to the insurance policies to ensure that persons are not in violation.
“You have to look carefully at the insurance policy because there are a number of people driving vehicles and the insurance policy doesn’t cover them. Not because the vehicle is insured means it is insured for them to be driving because they have different policies – 25 and older, 2 years of having a license and those kinds of things.”
Constable Belle-Carty made mention of some of the traffic violations that would lead to an arrest.
“I have arrested people from traffic accidents – either their license expire or they don’t have a license, insurance expired.” He said. As it pertains to fatal accidents the Constable continued, “its procedure to arrest the person and follow certain protocols. It’s not saying the person is wrong but it’s just for further investigation.”
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ radio at 8:30am during the “Morning Show”.
]]>
Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 5, 2020 (ZIZ News): The traffic department will resume clearing abandoned vehicles off the street this week.
This is according to Second in Command at the Traffic Department, Inspector Phillip Eddie who was speaking at Wednesday’s edition of “On the Road”.
“When it comes to abandoned vehicles on the road, we already started sometime last week with the removal of broken down vehicles and I say this with no hesitation that all those abandoned vehicles once we can actually find the owners they will be given notice and I’m resuming this week to start removing these vehicles,” he said.
He cited a section of the traffic law that gives the police the right to move these vehicles.
“When a vehicle has broken down in such circumstances and the defects cannot be remedied within a specific time or the presence of the vehicle is likely unnecessarily to obstruct or to cause danger to other persons using the road, when required to do so by any member of the police force on the grounds that the vehicle have been permitted to remain at rest on the road in such a position or in such condition or in such circumstances as to be likely to cause danger to the other persons using the road to remove or to take all reasonable steps to secure the removal of such vehicle as soon as practicable.”
Inspector Eddie asked that persons who have abandoned vehicles in unsafe locations to remove them in a timely manner.
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ radio and streamed live on all social media platforms.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 22, 2020 (ZIZ News): Ahead of the completion of the West- Line Bus Terminal, representatives from the West Line Bus Association and the St. Peter’s Bus Association visited the studios of ZIZ radio on Wednesday for the programme “On the Road ” to discuss some of the issues and solutions that can be implemented upon its completion.
President of the West-Line Bus Association, Nicholson Webster informed that since the bus stop near Redi Fried Chicken on the Bay Road has been moved it has had an effect on the flow of traffic at the West-Line Bus Terminal.
“Because the east line is no longer able to stay there, they’re coming down at the west line and the west line right now is really congested so there’s further congestion right there,” he said.
He also called for a solution that will mitigate the problem.
“So if we could probably get something in place where we can have them come to drop off in a designated area it would help because sometimes they just come down there and stop as soon as they get in and it creates a real problem not only for the buses but for other vehicles that are trying to get in so that’s a real issue.”
Webster also recommended only allowing other motorists to drive through the terminal when dropping off and picking up someone to alleviate some of the congestion issues at the terminal.
“On the Road” airs every Wednesday on ZIZ radio at 8:30am during the “Morning Show”. The programme is also streamed live in all its social media platforms.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 13, 2020 (ZIZ News): On Wednesday’s episode of “On the Road, Traffic Talk”, Host of the programme Inspector Phillip Eddy of the Traffic Department was joined by the Public Relations Officer of the St. Peter’s Bus Association Tyrone “Granny” Browne to discuss the illegal actions of bus operators observed by the traffic department and the association.
Browne spoke of bus operators who solicit passengers outside of the bus terminal noting that it is wrong and it prevents other drivers from getting passengers and making money.
“This problem has been occurring for a long while. Since the East Line Bus Terminal have been built there has been some bus operators who have never used the bus terminal, they stay on the road more or less block traffic and is depriving other busses from getting a reasonable chip and that is not right,” he said.
He also said the traffic department’s decision to move the bus stop near Redi Fried Chicken on the Bay Road resulted from bus operators waiting for passengers there.
“In January the Commissioner came to a board meeting and that reach on his table about the bus drivers going down by Readi Fried parking there and actually waiting for passengers. Busses from the West and St. Peter’s have to stay in the road and drop off passengers and it was not right, it was causing confusion.”
“On the Road, Traffic Talk” airs every Wednesday at 8:30 am on ZIZ radio during the “Morning Show”, it is also streamed live on all ZIZ social media platforms.
]]>