Close To 7,000 Tickets Issued In One Year
Operation Vega has been in existence for just over one year, and during that time, close to 7,000 tickets were issued for a range of traffic offences, with a highest recorded speed of 119 kph, the police said today.
A police spokesperson said, “Operation Vega, the Bermuda Police Service traffic abatement initiative, has been in existence now for just over one year. During that time, close to seven thousand [6,670] tickets were issued for a range of traffic offences.
“For the current reporting period spanning July 11th, to August 8th this year, there has been an increase in the number of tickets issued for almost all traffic related offences, compared with the month before.
“In fact, a total of 640 tickets were issued. That’s up from 444 in the previous reporting period. In addition, during this reporting period 91 warnings were issued, up from 50 in the previous reporting period.
“The break-down of traffic offences reported is as follows:
- Speeding 293 [+97] – [Highest recorded speed 119 kph]
- Traffic Sign 78 [-20]
- Unlicensed Vehicle 74 [+32]
- No third part insurance 61 [+25]
- No Driver’s license 58 [+18]
- Manner of driving 21 [+6]
- Disqualified 9 [+5]
- Seatbelt 21 [+11]
- Helmet 22 [+13]
- Handheld device 2 [+2]
- Defective vehicle 1 [-1]
- Fail to give name/address 0 [0]
Robert Cardwell, Acting Superintendent – Tactical Support Division said: “The fact that someone is willing to travel at more than three times the legal speed limit, is testament to the disregard some individuals have for not only the rules of the road, but more importantly, the safety and wellbeing of other members of the public. It also gives credence to the fact that heightened policing alone will not result in better or improved behaviour by motorists or other road users for that matter. It still comes down to personal responsibility.”
“Operation Vega will remain in place for the foreseeable future as the Bermuda Police Service continues to meet its mandate of making Bermuda safer. However, we wish to remind members of the public of their role in helping us to achieve that objective. Slow down, don’t drive whilst impaired, exercise proper care and attention when operating any vehicle. Again, the life you save could well be your own.”
It may make the government money but issuing tickets isnt changing anything every day i see bikes overtaking on corners , overtaking on the inside , even with vehicles coming in the opposite direction . We are experiencing more accidents , more serious accidents. Courts need to suspend licenses for any speeds over 64 kph . I cant believe the people who flash their lights to warn that radar is just up ahead , they are only assisting these maniacs.
Without meaningful enforcement the effort is meaningless.
“Courts need to suspend licenses for any speeds over 64 kph”
It used to be suspended licence for 55kph or 3 speeding convictions in 2 years (no matter the speed).
Congratulations police, for what? Nothing will change and you know it.
Less than one speeding ticket per day. Not even two traffic sign/traffic light violations per week.
The BPS ought to be ashamed of themselves.
One hundred speeding tickets per day could be done without effort. Fifty traffic light violations could be done any morning at Collectors Hill & Paget lights.
The numbers are an embarrassment.