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02:38Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago and of course viewers across the world, I'm Mark Bessant,
03:06your host of Beyond the Tape, and we are joined today by no stranger to any of us,
03:12Sergeant Brent Batson from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Highway and Patrol Division.
03:19Welcome, sir.
03:20Hi, thanks for having us, Mark.
03:21Good to be here again.
03:22Always.
03:23Right.
03:24I know that you wanted to share a very sad sentiment, of course, passing on one of your
03:32colleagues sometime this morning.
03:36Yes.
03:37In fact, ASP Intercab Mohamed, he actually was attached for a while at the Traffic and
03:43Highway Patrol Branch, but the Commissioner of Police and the Executive of the TTPS extend
03:47condolences to the family and colleagues of ASP Intercab Mohamed.
03:51ASP Mohamed fell ill at home on yesterday's date.
03:55Had to be rushed to Eric Williams Medical Science Complex.
03:58Succumbed to ailments, unfortunately, on today's date while being treated at the institution.
04:03ASP Mohamed was a dedicated, hardworking officer, and his passing will certainly be a great
04:09loss to the organization, which he saved with passion, commitment, and pride.
04:13Our hearts go out to his family in this time of bereavement.
04:17May he rest in peace.
04:19And like I said, he worked with us, Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch.
04:22He had a lot of – he brought with us, into our team, you know, a lot of experience from
04:28homicide, his investigative skills, even ex-CID.
04:33For a while after he left us, he went on to Transport and Telecom Branch, where he continued
04:39to do amazing work.
04:41So, definitely, it's a big loss for the organization.
04:44Our deepest sympathies to you and your colleagues, and of course, to Mr. Mohamed's family.
04:50We send our deepest sympathies to you as well.
04:53I know today we're going to be delving a little bit into safety and the roadways because,
04:58of course, it's just about two months shy of the Christmas, you know, Christmas upon us.
05:05And obviously, around this time, you know, people tend to be in a haste to go one place
05:11or the other, as well as there's a lot of other gatherings and festivities increasing
05:16at this juncture, going into December.
05:19And, of course, you obviously want to, you know, alert those who intend to, you know,
05:27partake during the festive season not to drink and drive.
05:31Yeah, definitely.
05:32You know, it's funny you mention that because, I don't know if Jackie got the video, but
05:37we just, you know, we were on social media on Wrightson Road, and this is peak hour traffic,
05:42yeah, Mark?
05:43People do seem to understand this, right?
05:45When – oh, great, awesome.
05:48This is peak hour when this incident happened, right?
05:51What is your rush?
05:52How far are you going to go?
05:54That you need to take a chance, expose yourself to Morris, other people, and now that the
05:59incident happens, how far are you going to reach?
06:02Was that your intended destination?
06:04I doubt it.
06:05So these unplanned events or unplanned outcomes, you know, it really causes a tremendous amount
06:12of stress to the rest of the nation.
06:14Some persons have appointments, some persons have kids.
06:17So when these things happen, they ripple effect across the country, especially on major arteries
06:24such as the Wrightson Road, you know, which is an exit point.
06:29You know, unfortunately, it's chance taken, and what we've seen happening on the road
06:34is this unnecessary type of risk taking that unfortunately, like I said, adds more risk
06:40and in this case, we're fortunate that nobody was injured, but again, let's look at the
06:45police resources have to go the clear the roadway.
06:47You know, I always try to remind persons, right?
06:51When we have to respond to RTs, you are pulling anti-crime resources.
06:58You are pulling anti-crime resources.
07:00You want us out there intercepting criminals, disrupting activities, but then you want
07:06to drink and drive crash.
07:07We have to shut down a highway.
07:09We have to pull more resources.
07:11So support us by being safe on the roads, along the roadways to operate clearly
07:17so that we could do our job.
07:19Yeah, most certainly, and I know, as you said, that particular accident occurred during rush hour.
07:25So it's like a double whammy because, you know, you're already in traffic
07:29and now with you, or in this case, the accident blocking our particular lane
07:34and you know Wrightson Road, if it's one way going down, one way coming up,
07:37of course, one lane is inconvenienced, then everything bottlenecks
07:43into one lane and then you're stuck in traffic for a longer period of time.
07:48We use the keyword, the inconvenience.
07:51Whenever I look at it, it's almost selfish driving
07:54because all you're thinking about is yourself getting ahead,
07:57not realizing that those consequences, like if you want to see that ripple effect,
08:01it's going to be hundreds of commuters and their lives.
08:06We're going to obviously continue that discussion
08:09as we go along about some of the road safety tips
08:12you should be observing going into this festive season
08:16and of course, not just this festive season, but all year round.
08:20It's important to kind of brush up on your skills
08:24and even if you believe that you are a candidate for defensive driving,
08:29I think you would encourage people to do such.
08:32Definitely, definitely.
08:33Anything with regards to making drivers imparting more knowledge
08:38and getting more skillful is something we endorse.
08:41Yes, certainly.
08:42So, we just want to do a couple of housekeeping things.
08:45One is, of course, it's been 17 days since Suvish Ramnarine
08:50was taken from a bar in Kanupia by men posing,
08:56well, allegedly posing in police tactical uniforms
09:01and he was taken from that bar on that Saturday,
09:05two Saturdays and a little more ago.
09:08The police said they are continuing their investigations
09:12into Mr. Ramnarine's kidnapping
09:15and of course, we are hopeful and I'm sure the family is praying
09:19for the safe return of Mr. Ramnarine.
09:21So, we are obviously going to be monitoring and looking at that.
09:25Going forward.
09:27So, we are going to take a look at our headlines now
09:32and we will be back after this.
09:55So, we are going to take a look at our headlines now
09:58and we will be back after this.
09:59So, we are going to take a look at our headlines now
10:01and we will be back after this.
10:25Those are some of the headlines, of course,
10:27over the last 24 hours making the newspapers
10:31and we want to turn your attention to something
10:33that's very serious, of course.
10:35And the irony of this is that
10:38these parents went into the school in Sidris
10:42to address a bullying issue, right?
10:46And lo and behold, between their children,
10:49they were not satisfied apparently.
10:52They were not satisfied apparently
10:54with what the school recommendations were.
10:57So, they came out of the school's compound in Sidris
11:01and apparently, this is what transpired.
11:08So, this is two parents,
11:11one apparently allegedly armed with
11:14what appears to be a cutlass
11:16in the midst of school children
11:22That's a great example.
11:24That's what we want them to live.
11:27And as you speak about this,
11:30Tutor has condemned this kind of action
11:34and obviously, they describe this incident
11:37as very disgusting by the President, Mr. Lumpkin
11:40and of course, ACP Meister has said
11:43that charges are expected to be laid
11:46very soon in relation to this incident
11:50because obviously, there was a weapon involved
11:52in this incident.
11:54There are school children around there
11:56including the children of those parents
11:59where you would hear them calling out
12:01mummy, mummy and so on.
12:03And I would think that they would set a better example.
12:06We have been speaking about bullying
12:08for the last couple of weeks on this program, Mr. Larson.
12:10And I would think by now, parents
12:12should be wiser in how they treat with matters like this
12:16and obviously, they themselves have to
12:18be a better example for their children.
12:20As I was saying, for one,
12:22I don't know where that cutlass came out from
12:24what she walked with, did it come from a vehicle?
12:27But that's a deadly weapon.
12:29That can cause serious grievous injury
12:33and unfortunately, like I said,
12:35the whole purpose of this was
12:39to discuss things like de-escalation
12:41and mediation
12:43and the importance of staying calm
12:45especially with kids
12:47when they are hearing a person's words
12:49with violence
12:51and that's exactly what unfortunately transpired here
12:53with big adults.
12:55I know, it's shocking because
12:57we as adults
12:59are supposed to know better.
13:01Yes.
13:03What kind of example are you setting
13:05with your children
13:07actually seeing this play out before their eyes?
13:09Yeah, and the thing about it
13:11is how easily
13:13persons end up
13:15before the court
13:17on criminal charges
13:19when they just went to a little meeting.
13:21Why? Because you could not take your time
13:23to step back, reflect about your emotions
13:25reflect about your thoughts
13:27or the anger that you're feeling
13:29and step away.
13:31Step away from the situation.
13:33We had a very safe
13:35Tobago carnival
13:37kudos to Tobago
13:39for supporting the TTPS operations there
13:41I know DCP George was on the ground
13:44from a command and control standpoint
13:46and they had a great ground game going on
13:48but more importantly
13:50you had the public, you know what I mean
13:52religious out there to have a good time
13:54but more important, obeying the laws
13:56but here
13:58you have parents
14:00that like I said
14:02that are supposed to be supporting
14:04youth in making
14:06better and safer decisions
14:08so to knowing it
14:10absolutely has degenerated
14:12that street fight
14:14that really
14:16leaves one to wonder
14:18We are hoping that
14:20the police will take the necessary
14:22action and of course we talk about
14:24people being hasty and violent
14:26not in just that situation
14:28but we have another situation that played out
14:30over the last few days
14:32in a parking lot
14:34in an area
14:36of Long Circular Road
14:38and apparently
14:40from my understanding
14:42the gentleman in the orange there
14:44I believe he is the owner
14:46of the business place
14:48so what may have transpired
14:50a gentleman came to park
14:52on that compound
14:54but I don't think he was actually parking
14:56to go to that business place
14:58so the owner apparently
15:00came out
15:02to ask him to remove his vehicle
15:04and in
15:06so doing
15:08well
15:10so a little tussle just before the conversation
15:12and it is alleged
15:14of course
15:16that a short while after
15:18the gentleman who parked his
15:20vehicle there
15:22went I believe
15:24he's going into the vehicle now
15:26it's alleged that he took out some
15:28kind of weapon
15:30and then there's
15:32a tussle
15:34fight
15:36the businessman is trying to defend himself
15:38and he's struck many times
15:40by the gentleman
15:42that apparently parked there
15:44what I was also told
15:46is that the businessman suffered
15:48a broken nose in at least
15:50five parts of his
15:52nose ridge were broken
15:54by the alleged weapon
15:56used by the individual
15:58in this case
16:00and I know the police
16:02is going to be looking to investigate
16:05and so we will just have to look at
16:07just to be clear
16:09there are clearly some offences
16:11taking place here
16:13but I just want to link it to what we
16:15just saw and again
16:17it's when emotions
16:19you lose control
16:21of good judgement
16:23of common sense
16:25to understand that soon more than likely
16:27based on the evidence that the police have
16:29and once a person has made a report
16:31that you're going to be criminally
16:33charged for an offence
16:35something that's preventable
16:37and again something that's concerning
16:39on a national scale
16:41with regards to the citizenry
16:43is it a little bit of a powder keg
16:45there's so much people under so much stress
16:47that we go straight to violence
16:49it's true and don't get me wrong
16:51I have borne witness
16:53where persons
16:55parking indiscriminately
16:57one, even blocking business people
16:59blocking residents
17:01we're having that issue
17:03all the time and now it's decreased a lot
17:05because one
17:07when the wrecking started you realise
17:09once you're in front that victim gets in the mood
17:11hookity crook
17:13but the conversations
17:15ok yes he did it
17:17alright let's call 999
17:19let's get the law enforcement here to try and assist
17:21before it escalates to this
17:23because you want to be
17:25on the right side of the law
17:27not on the wrong side
17:29you know what I mean
17:31and you were right, you could end up on the wrong side
17:33once you cross that line from words
17:35into violence
17:37surely
17:39we just want to take a quick look at this video
17:41before we go to break here
17:43it's allegedly
17:45members of the Trinidad and Tobago
17:47Coast Guard
17:53so what do you see there
17:55there is supposedly
17:57one of the guys
17:59probably not feeling well
18:01I don't know if he's trying to take a sleep
18:03or some sort
18:05but his firearm is left unattended
18:07is it an automatic
18:09definitely a heavy armed
18:11rifle at the side
18:13is it in the Coast Guard boot
18:15at that point
18:17you know I always say
18:19when
18:21we always have this
18:23any type of firearms
18:26I'm assuming
18:28that's a Coast Guard vehicle
18:30because everybody there seems to be
18:32persons, members of that unit
18:34that being the case
18:36you know I always tell people
18:38the context is important
18:40at that point
18:42whoever is filming
18:44was it a civilian, was it a member
18:46also filming
18:48in context where it was
18:50not to show what that risk was
18:52it was in a public space
18:54I know that there are certain
18:56protocols whether you are in the
18:58Coast Guard, the Defence Force or the Police Service
19:00how you secure your firearm
19:02there's no two ways about that
19:04he may have to answer
19:06to his senior
19:08I know that as my
19:10producer pointed out
19:12they are very oblivious because
19:14everybody is sitting there on their cell phones
19:16down to the guy who is operating
19:18the interceptor I think it is
19:20was the interceptor moving
19:22he's sitting there very nonchalantly
19:24he's on his phone
19:26and there's other two colleagues
19:28in the back are sitting on their phone as well
19:30so we will imagine
19:32we will wait for the Trinidad and Tobago
19:34Coast Guard to make
19:36some kind of pronouncement
19:38or say something or issue a release of some
19:40measure about this
19:42we're going to take a short break and we'll come back to you
19:44stay with us
19:52hi guys
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22:27Welcome back to Beyond the Tape
22:29I'm your host Mark Bassan
22:31of course joined today by Sergeant Brent Batson
22:33of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
22:35and more importantly the Highway Patrol
22:37and um
22:39we want to kind of delve
22:41into um I guess
22:43you know when we talk about road traffic
22:45accidents and so on
22:47and the dangers involved and of course
22:49how we can mitigate
22:51those numbers in terms of
22:53trying to lessen them and diminish
22:55RTAs on the road. I think we had what
22:57102 road fatalities last year
22:59and to date
23:01there's about 70
23:0391
23:05compared to 87
23:07so we actually have a 5% increase Mark
23:09and that's why we welcome
23:11the opportunity to be on the tape today
23:13let's just talk about traffic
23:15we live for that
23:17but what hurts for example
23:19this year is we've seen
23:21a trend that we have
23:23not seen in the history of Trinidad and Tobago
23:25and that is a
23:2762% increase in
23:29pedestrian deaths
23:31you would have seen over the weekend
23:33we had
23:35three pedestrian deaths
23:38we had one with a guard
23:39person that was crossing
23:41in the vicinity of um
23:43close to GMR
23:45and it was a hit and run, it's currently an investigation
23:47and that's another thing that disappoints
23:49when persons don't stop to render aid
23:51don't stop to call
23:53you know it's a miracle GMR was close by
23:55the actual base but unfortunately
23:57the injuries were so severe
23:59that you know she succumbed to the injury
24:01we also had an incident
24:03on the western main road where an elderly man
24:05was knocked down and you know that was
24:07coming off of the injured
24:09lady who was unfortunately
24:11struck
24:13so we
24:15we're concerned by this because
24:17these are low speed roads
24:19you know when we look at main road speeds
24:21of 50 kilometers an hour
24:23these impacts are generally
24:25considered survivable by the human body
24:27so once persons
24:29get severe injuries
24:31with regards to RTS
24:33the injury definitely tends to be one of the
24:35main factors involved
24:37now they're getting along with the elderly lady
24:39the infirm situation
24:41would definitely be taken
24:43into account as severe to the injuries
24:45but in the other cases
24:47we have outliers that we never saw before
24:49pedestrians in Gwia Gwari
24:51you know being struck on the Erin Road
24:53in the areas that
24:55we never saw before and one thing
24:57we're tying it back to without a doubt
24:59is the behavior of the
25:01motorists and the motorists are not
25:03adjusting their speed to
25:05the environment. I always remind persons
25:07when you
25:09look at the eastern main road
25:11for example so your highway is 100
25:13kilometers an hour but it's outside of
25:15a built up area it's a highway
25:17you know drive on
25:19to the eastern main road
25:21built up area you have half that speed
25:23right but that 50
25:25kilometers an hour is set in
25:27good conditions Mark
25:29what does that mean? If it's dark
25:31you can't drive at 50 because you do have
25:33the advantage of daytime visibility
25:35if school is over you cannot
25:37drive at 50 Mark because
25:39kids are going to be exiting vehicles
25:41coming out of taxis crossing on front of
25:43but you want to still drive 50 that's
25:45unreasonable. If it's
25:47raining if the light
25:49if the sun is set and it's in your
25:51eye you have reduced visibility all
25:53these factors come into play especially
25:55for the road traffic investigation part
25:57you find a lot of cases even when persons get charged
25:59whether it's for careless drivers
26:01careless driving or dangerous driving
26:03these are some of the factors that you realize that the drivers
26:05did not take into account
26:07and it's funny you mentioned defensive driving because
26:09that's what it focuses on changing
26:11the drivers perception
26:13with regards to his or her environment
26:15recognizing those hazards and then adjusting
26:17your driving speed. We certainly want
26:19to hear from our viewers so I just want to remind
26:21you of those lines 623
26:231711 extensions
26:251992, 1993, 1996
26:27and 1997
26:29so you raised two interesting points
26:31the first I want to deal with
26:33about pedestrians and the 62%
26:35rise and this is
26:37something I think that you will agree
26:39with me upon is that
26:41when we are driving on the highways even
26:43there are walkovers
26:45and
26:47people are still not using the walkovers
26:49when you are going north to south
26:51east to west as the case may be
26:53endangering their lives rather than
26:55take the long way up and be safe
26:57they prefer to take the short way
26:59and be unsafe
27:01so look at our part
27:03our job is public safety
27:05and what does that mean? Our job
27:07is injury and harm prevention overall
27:09not just on the roads but even from a
27:11national point of
27:13harm prevention
27:15of making sure
27:17keeping people safe, right? Risk reduction
27:19now on the roads
27:21whether we are out there
27:23trying to control speed with my
27:25speed guns, doing DUI exercises
27:27as you mentioned with regards to the festivities
27:29we are doing what we can
27:31all it takes as a pedestrian
27:33is to use multi
27:35million dollar crossing
27:37infrastructure, that's all
27:39to just make it a little bit more inconvenient
27:41it was amazing because I had to
27:43have a conversation with a pedestrian
27:45that I was observing
27:47part of the side by DHL there
27:49and at the crosswalk
27:51and I was watching this guy
27:53underneath, he was on the other side
27:55so he was crossing from what we call north to south
27:57so wait for a while
27:59dodge one carriageway
28:01three lanes, traffic
28:03wait in the centre median
28:05dodge the next carriage, come across, step out of the vehicle
28:07I said well I hope that was worth it
28:09I said you know what was amazing? All that time
28:11you stood in the median
28:13and at the side there trying to look for that spot
28:15you had to walk over that whole walkover and come back
28:17I don't want to pinpoint
28:19any particular walkover
28:21but we want to encourage our viewers
28:23and citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
28:25to make use of the walkovers
28:27where they are placed strategically
28:29because they have been placed there
28:31because you have asked for it
28:33and we had an incident many years ago
28:35involving a number of people
28:37who died
28:39unfortunately
28:41I think there was a walkover
28:43built since then
28:45I think people not using the walkover
28:47there and other places across Trinidad and Tobago
28:49Mark, what about the ferry?
28:51The ferry right in front here
28:53beautiful walkover
28:55when we go down in front of West Mall
28:57when we're doing speed, we're in shock
28:59at the chances people are taking
29:01when there's no need to take it
29:03and this is why I bring up the
29:05the issue of
29:07unnecessary risk taking
29:09you know, it's almost as if
29:11if persons
29:13choose to exercise poor judgment
29:15in the hope of what? Shortcuts?
29:17Shortcuts lead to
29:19big problems sometimes
29:21and people realize it's not worth it
29:23Alright, we're going to take a short break
29:25and we'll be back to discuss this more
29:27Stay with us
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34:2795% of the population in Trinidad,
34:30just 5% are differently abled.
34:33But 95% of the walkovers they have in Trinidad,
34:37they build it for differently abled people.
34:39They have walkovers going straight down south,
34:41so when they want to walk over,
34:43you have to walk about a quarter of a mile
34:44before you reach the top.
34:46That builds to wheelchair or if a man
34:48crossing the highway with animals.
34:49Nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong,
34:51but it could put some steps on the walkover,
34:53like cockroach, possible containers,
34:57and high-through containers as far as below cockroach.
34:59Cockroach have some steps,
35:00they take five minutes on their walk up,
35:02five minutes on their walk down.
35:03That is a friendly walkover.
35:05The walkover down in town, they have it both ways.
35:08The one by, say, crossing over by the Amham,
35:11they have it both ways.
35:12Somebody with two legs could walk up easy,
35:14and they could go with a wheelchair.
35:16The one by the beach house,
35:17another one by the beach house, by Stiller,
35:19that walkover only built for people with barrows
35:23from in the market.
35:25That is built for all them.
35:26I may be wrong, you don't get me wrong,
35:28but it's really kind of hard for school children
35:31to be walking that big, long distance
35:33to go over that highway.
35:34It's a big, and it's a room.
35:36We could take a couple steps to just walk up.
35:38I hear you.
35:39People like me and you, Hanbat,
35:41you and Mark, could walk up the easiest steps
35:43to just walk up, and we will walk up.
35:46I am a driver, and I don't get vexed
35:47when I see the crossing, but that is tough for them.
35:50But some of these walkovers I find,
35:52they are very unreasonable, and they are very expensive.
35:55Sure, noted.
35:56I mean, I hear your point with regards to the distance.
36:01I always say, you know, I don't know what factors
36:03the engineers had to play with in order to,
36:06sometimes they look at the angle of the incline
36:09to look at the less strain on the body,
36:10so even elderly person be less strain
36:12on their knees and so forth.
36:14So I hear your point that leave the ramps,
36:16but see if you could factor in some stairs
36:18for more fit persons to expedite the cross.
36:21And that's a tough, you know, we can't,
36:24it's almost like trying to encapsulate every situation.
36:28But in the meantime, I just want to mention,
36:33always take that safer option.
36:34That's right, it might take a longer,
36:36but it's going to be a safer option.
36:38As you say, better safe than sorry.
36:40Yeah, definitely.
36:41I just want to ask, what was the total number
36:43of accidents reported to date for this year?
36:47Total number, not just RTs.
36:48Right, so I mean, not just fatalities.
36:51Well, I'm going to give you a shocking figure, right?
36:54So when we get data in, so for example,
36:58when CAPA compiles the data for RTs alone, right?
37:03I'll give you a good example.
37:05Last year, over 60,000, right?
37:07Accidents.
37:08Yeah, accidents.
37:09So it's not fatalities, it's just, right?
37:11Just overall.
37:12Yeah, but you have to understand,
37:13almost probably in excess of 90% of those are trivial,
37:16right, small RTs.
37:18But at the same time, you always see what they call it
37:20in HSC, they call it the iceberg theory, right?
37:23Which is, those trivial RTs, they kind of,
37:26yeah, sending a message of risk.
37:29And that's really concerning,
37:30because usually it used to be about 40,000,
37:33but you know what was interesting?
37:34I was telling one of the, Mr. Danny Pigott,
37:37he's the chief traffic engineer,
37:39was what we looked at, and I don't know
37:40if they're doing the same study, was that during COVID,
37:44you know, when everybody was risk averse
37:46to going into the maxis and being in,
37:49a lot of people, they saved up their money
37:52and they bought cars.
37:53So now we have so much single occupant vehicles
37:57moving through this transit system,
37:59that is honest, there's no carpooling,
38:01there's nothing for you to encourage the public,
38:03you know, to share rides.
38:05And that's something to me, the Ministry of Transport
38:08really needs to look at.
38:10I was, you know, I was looking at that argument,
38:14really, with regards to, I'm trying to remember
38:16which editorial it was, but they were talking
38:18about the traffic in Chagones
38:19and all these things happening.
38:21And we're right, well, more park and ride systems
38:24for these planned events, we know is happening.
38:27Even if people have to pay more,
38:29knowing that the vehicle is safe and secure,
38:32they might be willing to jump on a PTSD bus
38:34or maxi taxi contracted, rather than have to sit down
38:38in traffic for two and a half hours.
38:40So it's really something the company,
38:42the country needs to move forward to analyze.
38:44Do you all have, in terms of a percentage
38:47or a number of preventable road accidents
38:51that led to people actually dying?
38:53Right, no, no.
38:55Well, we don't analyze it with regards to that.
38:57So any fatality will be investigated based on causation.
39:00So we code it according to, as we would say,
39:04you know, fault, a fault code.
39:06And that's usually what helps drive our data
39:09with regards to, one, prosecution,
39:11or two, looking at where our hotspots are,
39:14even with regards to collisions.
39:16Okay, interesting, interesting.
39:18I had a discussion with a friend of mine about that,
39:22and if the data was actually there.
39:24So I wanted to ask that question.
39:26And now, we talked about speed, right?
39:29And just quickly, before we go to the break,
39:31we know there's a maximum speed limit, right?
39:34We know that, by road signage, of course.
39:37But there's also, is there anything
39:38such as a minimum speed limit?
39:41Because sometimes you have people in the fast lane,
39:45on the highway driving at 50 and 60 miles per hour.
39:48Yeah, yeah.
39:49And isn't that, at least in the eyes of the police,
39:52something that they can be charged with?
39:53Right, so, couple things just to be clear.
39:55One is we have no fast lane, we have overtaking lanes.
39:57What, why not?
39:58Yeah, yeah, yeah.
39:59Yes.
40:00And the other thing is that, it is, you know,
40:04it's funny because we've been asking
40:05the traffic management branch to put some more signage up.
40:09Just remind, you know, slow traffic,
40:11keep into the left lane, onto the center lane,
40:15keep out of that right lane,
40:16to leave that lane free, simply for passing.
40:20And what we've seen happen is that persons,
40:24you know, it's funny because, you know,
40:25we saw those road rage, that incident we saw
40:28was like a road rage into an evening parking.
40:31But we've had situations where persons would drive,
40:35right, a person would be driving 100 kilometers an hour,
40:38in the, overtaking the extreme right lane, not move.
40:41So, let's just suppose you chose,
40:44you chose to say, I want to do a 110,
40:46the he or she not moving, I'm obeying the speed limit,
40:49no one should pass me.
40:51I even block the police sometimes.
40:54And we've had situations where people overtake,
40:56cut back in front, then slow down on them.
40:58Yes.
40:59And that triggers incidents, you know?
41:01So, really, it's, so, the question,
41:03yeah, could you be charged?
41:04Well, there are different traffic violations
41:07we could go under for that.
41:08But I'm going to be honest with you,
41:09it's frustrating because as we move forward,
41:11we have a next one to deal with.
41:12Then we have a next one to deal with.
41:14Come back up, we have a next.
41:15It's nonstop.
41:16So, I think a lot more public education is necessary,
41:19even through partnering with Arrival Live
41:22or Ministry of Works.
41:23But that signage to remind drivers,
41:25because sometimes they forget,
41:26they're just sitting down there in that lane.
41:27Please move out.
41:29Surely.
41:29And we're going to continue this discussion,
41:32but we're going to take a short break,
41:33and we'll be back.
41:34Stay with us.
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43:35So what is needed in Trinidad and Tobago or in the Caribbean for encouraging sustainable
43:50transport?
43:53This bicycling culture which was once in the 60s, which was here and was wiped out by the
44:00car mobility, this has to be brought back and it's not enough to change the infrastructure.
44:07We have to change the concepts in mind.
44:11We have to start with the children and let them grow up with a new perspective, a new
44:18culture.
44:19The current infrastructure for cyclists, I believe we can do a lot better.
44:28Right now there's a lot of road work that is taking place, road rehabilitation, road
44:34extensions.
44:43So that video there from Arrive Alive, courtesy of Arrive Alive, is about changing mobility.
44:48Just walk us through a little bit about what we saw and what is the goal here.
44:57So the whole function, as you know, Arrive Alive, advocacy and so forth, but more importantly,
45:03the UN as part of their sustainable development goals, one of the areas that they're focusing
45:08on is safer mobility and safe transport, with regards to urban transport especially.
45:14Remember we were talking about park and ride systems.
45:20It's interesting how first world countries are trying to push dropping back cars as much
45:25and you promote cyclists, especially in inner city corridors, whereas developing countries
45:31seem to be pushing out more cars.
45:33But yet you have a climate that would really promote more cycling.
45:40So we're trying to partner with them to encourage persons.
45:45Now for you two, and I always say you can't compare, people always come and say, well,
45:50Mr. Batson in Holland, you know, that's culture.
45:55You talk about centuries of a cycling culture.
45:58So the transport system developed around that cycling culture.
46:03We have to, culture changes never overnight.
46:06It takes decades, but we have to start pushing and encouraging.
46:10You know, you see the Ministry of Health pushing issues of non-communicable diseases, and these
46:16are some of the ways that we can tackle these issues.
46:19So one, we have persons that are more healthy, we have less pollution because there's less
46:25emissions in the road, and you have a network that's less congested because more people
46:30are using bikes.
46:31So the video which is available on Arrival Live's website as well as a YouTube page that
46:36you can take a look at, it showed the challenges that some persons have.
46:40So for example, there was an ice cream cart vendor, and he was just explaining that, you
46:43know, he was hit before, you know, but he still loves cycling.
46:48You know, he sells ice cream cones and so forth, but he loves cycling, but he's terrified
46:54sometimes using the road just to do his job.
46:56It shouldn't be that way.
46:57Thanks so much for that.
47:00We have a call on the line.
47:01Caller, good afternoon.
47:02Good evening, sorry.
47:03Good evening.
47:04When will we get on to the Beyond the Tape?
47:09Yes, you are on Beyond the Tape, sir.
47:11Go ahead.
47:12Okay.
47:13Sergeant Batson, can you hear me?
47:17Yes, yes.
47:18I'm here, sir.
47:19He's here.
47:20No, I beg your pardon?
47:22Yes.
47:23Mr. Batson can hear you.
47:24Go ahead.
47:25Okay.
47:26Well, I want to be critical of what I have to say.
47:29One, Sergeant Batson is going to be wearing khaki just now.
47:34That's number one.
47:35And my favorite moderator there, he is a boss.
47:42But the reason why I say so is just because Sergeant Batson explains everything that people
47:50can understand.
47:51But what I'm trying to say is that the way he puts it across, you would listen to him
47:58tentatively before you make any answers.
48:01Number two, when he's on the radio, who does he work on, on the highway patrol?
48:12Israel corridor?
48:14Different sections, sir.
48:16Across the country.
48:17Yeah.
48:18Oh, okay, okay.
48:19Because I would like to meet him one day to explain something to him personally.
48:22Okay.
48:23So have a good evening, and everybody be safe.
48:26And let God watch over you all.
48:30Thank you, sir.
48:31Bye-bye.
48:32Appreciate that.
48:33Sidney, I appreciate your sentiments, caller.
48:35And I guess, you know, your expertise goes far and wide.
48:39I mean, in terms of traffic and so on, and we were having a discussion before the show
48:44about your 13-odd years-
48:47With the TTPS.
48:48Yes.
48:49And of course, a lot of it entrenched with traffic and highway patrol and so on.
48:52But what I have to remind persons, Mark, is that where we were, so like you said, you
49:02were concerned when you said it was 91, you know, with traffic deaths, you know, for the
49:05year already.
49:07Mark, almost 15 years ago, we would be about 260-something road traffic deaths.
49:13So it goes to show the initiatives that have been deployed for risk reduction, which have
49:20been working, whether it's through DUI enforcement, with the use of the breathalyzers, you know,
49:25for alcohol impairment, speed guns outside there to detect speed violations.
49:34When we utilize the digital ticketing devices now, you know, so this is a quicker dispensation
49:39of justice right on your roadway.
49:41The digital management for the U-turn now allows you easier ways to contest it, if you
49:46agree with the manner in which, you know, we did our job.
49:49And, but it allows us photographic evidence immediately, you know, so making it a little
49:54bit more transparent.
49:56When we're out there now, we also have the spot speed cameras are coming on play soon
50:01through the Ministry of Works and Transport, and we have red light camera enforcement coming
50:04on as well.
50:06With good robust legislation, with good training tools and equipment, and I just want to make
50:10this announcement right here to the country.
50:13The commissioner has some high-tech speed enforcement equipment coming in soon.
50:18So it's going to really ramp up our ability to do more speed detection at night, because
50:24as everybody's well aware, once there's less traffic, that's when people take the risk.
50:30And what about cameras that they have installed along the highways going south?
50:34The present ones, yeah, right, good.
50:36And the ones east-west corridor?
50:37Good question.
50:38Yeah, so those were on the Ministry of Works and Transport.
50:40From what we were told, because they're a separate agency, I just want to be clear on
50:44that, but the technology becomes obsolete so fast now.
50:51In the realm of AI, so even the software became incompatible, you know, and they were using
50:59radar technology, which is outdated, because it's one of the most vulnerable to being challenged.
51:06So the whole system is going laser-based with a lot more video analytics, and this is how
51:12we have to go.
51:13Persons get frustrated with the roadblock, you know, with stopping traffic, and those
51:18of you who paid attention to the Transport Commissioner's announcement to using more
51:23video enforcement, photo enforcement, so we're going to send everything by the mail.
51:29We're not going to look for you.
51:30When we come to look for you, it's arrest, right?
51:32That's when we come to look for you.
51:34You're well-travelled.
51:35The London Metropolitan Police is a powerful agency because of CCTV.
51:40What are they telling people?
51:41They're telling people, I'm not going to stop you from committing your crime, but I am going
51:46to come after you, and you will be arrested and prosecuted, guaranteed, tied into that.
51:50So technology is the way that we have to run the country.
51:54Most definitely.
51:55We're going to take a short break.
51:56I'm Billy Black.
51:57Stay with us.
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53:48It starts here with the Trinidad Express newspapers.
53:55Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
54:03I'm your host, Mark Bassan, of course, joined today by Sergeant Brent Batson from the Trinidad
54:08and Tobago Police Service Traffic and Highway Patrol.
54:12And I can tell you that just before the break, I was telling Sergeant Batson that I expect
54:18that in the coming weeks, we are actually going to have the Transport Commissioner on
54:23the show, God willing, have already made contact.
54:25So we're hoping for the best.
54:26So he can walk us through a lot more other stuff that I think motorists will be certainly
54:32interested in.
54:33And on that note, of course, we know that mid-September was actually the date where
54:39you had to have your car in terms of the tinted regulations in order.
54:44And I just want just to refresh our minds as to those regulations.
54:49Sure.
54:50No problem.
54:51I want to remind the public, you have not seen us out there as yet really enforcing
54:56the tint.
54:57And that's because we know there's a large volume of tint exemption applications inside,
55:03you know.
55:04Some of them legit, some people still trying to clamor for on their own.
55:08Once we do start, and I want to be clear with everybody, it is not going to be an excuse
55:14that you have your application inside.
55:18We will be enforcing the law as it stands right now with regards to the level of visible
55:22light transmission that is permitted through that window.
55:25So I am continuing to appeal, and we are, the TTPS, and all law and traffic law enforcement
55:31agencies, wardens, municipal, all of us who are authorized to do so, to please utilize
55:37this time, visit your tint shops, and it's important you have a tint shop with a tint
55:42meter so you can check pre- and post-levels.
55:45Okay?
55:47Just a quick reminder, you're allowed 70% on your front windscreen, you're allowed a
55:5235% what we call anti-glare band, 6 inches, you're allowed 35% on your driver, and in
55:58your front seat passenger glass, and 20% to windows behind us.
56:03Okay?
56:04Anything that is out of that, more in the below, higher is fine, but below is the issue.
56:09Regardless of how much light comes in, that will be the issue.
56:12And I want to just clear this up.
56:13There is a discretionary, of course, of a 3%.
56:16Yes.
56:17There is a margin.
56:18Yeah, yeah.
56:19There is a margin.
56:20There is a margin.
56:21Yeah, yeah.
56:22To clarify that.
56:23There's a 3% margin of error that we work with.
56:24Right?
56:25That we will work with by law.
56:26Okay?
56:27That we're going to work with.
56:28So you're quite right on that.
56:29Yeah.
56:30Okay.
56:31Most definitely.
56:32And just before we leave, I think you want to just touch on the registered number plates
56:37that I believe is going to be coming in on stream hopefully soon.
56:42So those are, to me, the announcement by the Transport Commissioner and the Minister of
56:48Finance pushing forward the new vehicle registration plate system will be one of the most impactful
56:56anti-crime measures in the entire country.
57:00You of all people know, Mark, as an investigative reporter, the ability for him to switch plates
57:05is our toughest challenge.
57:06So this is going to help nip it in the bud.
57:08Thank you so much, Sergeant Batson, of course, and we really appreciate all your insight
57:12and knowledge today.
57:13Sure.
57:14Remember, repeat tonight at 11.30, rerun tomorrow at 11.
57:18The TV6 News is up next.
57:20Stay with us.
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