Transport Ministry: Three Key Issues To Address
Minister of Tourism Development and Transport Shawn Crockwell issued a general reminder to the public on motoring safety saying there are three key issues he would like to address; the use of mobile devices whilst riding or driving, the illegal use of dumpster trailers on our roads and the Government’s plans to move forward with roadside sobriety testing.
“Legislation banning the use of mobile phones, iPods and other hand-held devices whilst driving was passed in the House of Assembly in 2010. However, despite of it being illegal mobile phone usage while driving a car or riding a bike has become prevalent,” the Ministry said.
“Motorists are still using their mobile phones whilst driving, despite it being illegal. This is a major source of distraction and could result in a collision,” said Minister Crockwell. If you must use your phone whilst driving, pull over on the side of the road before doing so to avoid a collision.”
The law allows that for first offences fines can be levied up to $500. Second offences within two years impose fines up to $750 and a third offense within two years can net a fine up to $1,000.
Magistrates also have discretion to order six-month driving bans for first and second offences and up to 18 months for a third offense.
Another issue that Minister Crockwell wishes to address is the illegal use of dumpster trailers. Minister Crockwell explained, “From time to time we receive complaints about dumpster trailers operating illegally on our roads.
“As a reminder, it is currently illegal to operate a dumpster trailer on our roads without the express permission of the Minister of Tourism Development and Transport.”
The Ministry said, “The Motor Car Act of 1951 restricts the type of load that a tractor trailer dumpster can carry along with limitations on the time of day that dumpsters can operate on Bermuda’s roads.
“In accordance to the Act, the policy has defined that a tractor trailer dumpster can only carry items that a truck cannot. Policy also dictates the specific times that a tractor trailer dumpster is restricted from operating.
“There are some cases in which it is more practical to appeal to the Minister for an exception and consequently, under Section 41 [3] of the Motor Car Act, the Minister of Transport has the authority to grant operators permits based on a sound application.
Minister Crockwell also explains the introduction of road side sobriety testing saying, “The Government will move forward with our plans to amend the Motor Car Act 1951 to allow “test before arrest” for roadside breathalysers, to create provisions on preliminary testing and to provide an approved instrument order so the proposed breathalyser may be used by the police to administer preliminary testing.
“The core objectives of introducing roadside sobriety testing are to decrease the number of alcohol related collisions/deaths on Bermuda’s roads, to increase awareness of alcohol related legislation, and to decrease the abuse of alcohol.”
The Minister concluded by saying, “It is vital that we continue to look at ways to save lives on our roads. With the implementation of some form of roadside sobriety testing scheme, it is anticipated that the benefits will consist of, but not limited to, a decrease in the number of alcohol related collisions, injuries and deaths, and increased the level of safety on our roads.”
The Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport reminded everyone to “use our roads responsibly and to drive with due regard for fellow motorists while carefully observing all traffic laws.”
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Category: Accidents and fires, All, News
The First priority for the government should be to pave the roads. There are potholes, trenches and crumbling surfaces everywhere. My suspension and tyres need replacing again because of the poor road conditions.
Please Minister fix our roads!!
And outsource it to one of the private companies.
Legislation should also be put into place that requires companies doing trenching work to return the roadway to the exact condition they found it in or better.
Years of maintenance neglect are everywhere. A little pothole or crack in the surface ignored becomes a big pothole or crumbling surface as water & heavy traffic work on it. We should be very thankful that we don’t get freezing. That would really accelerate deteriorating roads.
But hey, Beyonnce came here, people traveled the world on the taxpayers dime, all kinds people got civil service paychecks for doing very little & millions are unaccounted for.
Now we are broke & paying hundreds of thousands per day servicing a debt. That is money that could have been useful for servicing roads,
Even for the wall-fixing on Harbour Road near Salt Kettle, the road is a right mess after the repair work. Was it due to the equipment there? Either way, you now have a small patch of road that’s collecting water. Gotta do better than that.
I had a conversation yesterday with some friends about our encounters with some crazy drivers on the road when we were out cycling on Sunday morning. There were numerous cars and bikes going at excessive speed and taking significant risks by overtaking on corners etc. We decided that what contributes to recklessness is the absence of any real concern that they would be caught. Can you please look closely into options that would have them think about the consequences of taking such risks… other than the real possibility of their causing an accident where someone is hurt… or killed?
Violation of human rights to force people to put their own orifice on a widely-used device which has probably contacted dozens of STD infected individuals, the type who usually go out boozing.
So really you are going to force people who do not drink poison (alcohol) like me, and make me put my mouth on some dirty infected device and blow my moisture-laden breath into? What about the previous 100 people that blew into it? What about the Herpes, Clamydia, etc? What about Hepatitis? Bronchitis?
Even if you used plastic wraps for the lips, you would need a licensed doctor to monitor the sterility of it all! Otherwise it is a medical violation.
And so when I deny to take the breath test on that nasty machine, even though I do NOT drink alcohol at all, I will be labeled a criminal and hassled around and arrested? What a joke!
What happened to PULL YOU OVER AND BREATH TEST YOU WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ACTUALLY ARE DRIVING DRUNK OR BAD!!!! Don’t just pull over anyone for no reason!!!!!!!
Thanks alot you drunken booze-hounds!!!!!!!!!
In addition, there is work needed on many or our roads. There are too many large potholes out there. Not to mention all the uneven roads because of trenching. Those uneven roads can be very dangerous for motorcycle riders. Especially at night. And some of these main roads are poorly illuminated at night. That should be looked into as well.
More pleas, no action or timetable for action – no timetable for the introduction of roadside breath tests. This sounds like a reworking of a press release from last year …..
No mention of speeding? Guess that’s not a key issue.
The main problem on our roads is none of the above. It is people going to fast and NOT paying attention!!! Slow down and pay attention!
The biggest issue is SPEED. This is what is killing people.
Your government is broke – how do you propose paying for repair of roads? America’s Cup? Good luck.
Quo Fata Ferunt.
Get over it people. when people have no regard for life either their own or yours, they will continue to disrespect the rules of the road, refuse to slow down,drink and drive, and not exercise control of themselves or their vehicles blah blah blah.
slogans and hand wringing are not enough.
how do you encourage someone that their life is meaningful and that they should drive/ride that way? that they should consider the impact of their death, long-term injury on their child(ren), mother, significant other et al?
Just put the POLICE back at work on the roads to Micro manage them…. Plain and simple
@Stunned you got it all correct. I have attended many of our road accidents and fatalities and what they are not printing is that there’s a high percentage due to alcohol. I’ve lost a few friends and family this way. So people stop living in denial. If the people in power no matter who’s it is bans alcohol you’ll all flip your lids.
Raise the taxes on alcohol and junk food (sugary drinks, chips, all the stuff that is killing us). This government is looking for a Silver Bullet to solve our fiscal problems i.e. America’s Cup. It is not going to happen. We have have civil service cuts and targeted tax increases. A balanced budget now – not in 10 years.
Why not Ban them altogether…i cannot wrap my brain around these types of situations..it’s all about the ALCOHOL…and the sugary junk foods as you say…it causes all of the ills of which you all speak but yet you continue to shift blame…BAN ALCOHOL & SAVE MANY LIVES!!
alcohol is for losers
After the storm’s I noticed the lighting in some areas are really bad and the pot holes mercy! Going to need new shocks
While roadside sobriety testing may be a useful tool for the police to use to confirm their observations, it still doesn’t take away the fact that it is s violation of your human rights to be pulled over in the first place without them having a reason for doing so. The police can not randomly decided to violate someone’s rights. Reminds me of CUBA. It is illegal.