Police chief Kenwood Taylor, head of the Traffic Division, along with several other senior officers were at the Ranfurly Circus in an effort to enforce the seatbelt law.
More than 1,000 flyers were distributed to the motorists as the officers checked to make sure their seatbelts were buckled.
With school just recently closed, the police’s biggest concern is the large amount of students and other pedestrians on the road.
“We want to encourage motorists to buckle up, obey the speed limits and just drive with the utmost caution,” said Taylor.
Last year between January to June, there were 483 accidents and 110 injuries, however this year there has been 407 accidents but 133 with injuries.
Taylor said he believed that the number of injuries increased because persons were not wearing their seatbelts.
“We are extremely pleased with this road check, 98 percent of people were wearing their seatbelt and we feel that the message is getting out,” he added.
Along with checking for seatbelts, the officers were also looking for unlicensed cars.
Taylor explained that sometimes persons go above and beyond the required time for licensing their cars and he insisted that this was a big “no-no.”
“They drive them unlicensed, uninspected and uninsured,” he said.
Commissioner of Police Ellison E. Greenslade’s plan for 2012 is to use the road blocks as a way of seeking to deal with persons who are blatantly disobeying the rules of the road.
The police would like to remind the public that driving without a seatbelt is against the law. Offenders will receive a ticket and be fined.
By Desiree Joseph
Freeport News
