“I think the standards on the roads are atrocious. I've seen it myself. A big big problem is drink driving.”
Governor Martyn Roper
(CMR) Governor of the Cayman Islands, His Excellency Martyn Roper, said he supports tougher laws against people who drive under the influence of alcohol. The revelation comes after the elected Government has also been contemplating increasing the penalties for DUIs and reducing the legal limit by half.
Acknowledging that Cayman has a serious issue with drunk driving, Mr. Roper said he was looking forward to the Government passing a bill that will strengthen the laws.
Mr. Roper said.
“Culturally it seems to be accepted that drink driving is ok, but it isn't, people are dying,” Mr. Roper added.
He pointed out that there are already eight road deaths for 2022.
The Governor said he also supports more speed cameras being implemented, something he said will happen soon.
Meantime, the RCIPS said over the last 12 months (1 June 2021-30 May 2022), there have been 261 incidents recorded related to DUI or being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. However, only one road fatality over the last 12 months has been confirmed to result from a DUI.
The police say the recent fatality that occurred on 26 May was the first within the last 12 months where excess alcohol has been confirmed as a contributing factor.
The RCIPS has admitted that the actual number of fatal MVA's that have occurred over the last 12 months, where alcohol has been a contributing factor, could be higher. However, the medical condition of the driver/s involved can determine whether or not the police can test for alcohol.
There are currently three open investigations in relation to fatal MVA's that have occurred this year where the cause of the accidents has not yet been confirmed, the RCIPS has confirmed.
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