00:00 With the carnival season jumping off this week, the TDPS is putting all road users on notice to expect an increased police presence on the nation's roads.
00:11 We're going to be ramping up our road policing presence. Again, we appeal to the public to also ensure that you have your documentation ready, with regards to your driver's permit, your insurance and making sure you have an inspected vehicle.
00:22 But it's not just manpower that will be augmented. Butson says the service will soon add the added benefit of new technology to help enforce road safety laws.
00:33 We're definitely hoping to increase our speed enforcement campaigns. We're hoping to deploy some new technology. I don't want to talk too much about it because it's in the process of procuring, if I'm not mistaken.
00:48 But definitely this technology will allow us to target night speeding a lot more. So that will make a big difference in our enforcement efforts. We also have some new high-tech DUI detection equipment that we're hoping to come on stream as well.
01:05 He laments, "Oftentimes when motorists are held for driving under the influence, they are well beyond the alcohol blood limit by as much as three or four times." He's issuing the following reminder.
01:18 The legal limit for alcohol content, breath alcohol content, by any driver is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 milliliters of breath. Anybody found exceeding that will be subject to arrest without warrant and can face a fine of upwards of $12,000 for first offense, $22,500 for second offense.
01:44 And third offense, disqualified from holding a driver's permit for life. So it's a very serious, there's no ticket for DUI offenses. And this is why we're encouraging persons to please, we're begging you, we're going to be out there. Make sure you have a designated driver or call a taxi or a ride share.
02:03 Just this week, the TTPS received the Ministry of Works and Transport's Woodside Energy Road Safety Award after placing among 10 countries worldwide, which managed to reduce fatalities by 50% in 2021.
02:18 "In 2023, we unfortunately crossed the 100 mark again and ended with 102. And that was a bit disturbing because we fought hard to suppress, you know, over 10 years ago, you're talking about 15 years ago, road traffic deaths were in excess of 200.
02:35 And we brought it below 100 in 2020 and 2021. But unfortunately, in 2024, we have our first road traffic death with a pedestrian that was killed attempting to cross the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, literally in front of the El Seguro walkover.
02:55 And this is the type of restraints that we're hoping would cease with regards to persons' behaviors on the road."
03:04 forward. Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
