The Tribune

By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net ALMOST 1,000 traffic tickets were issued in the past week, with the police announcing they will continue to enforce the laws of the road. According to statistics, 949 drivers were cited for various offences, with 241 citations issued over the weekend alone. Parking in a no-parking area, driving without a seat-belt, unnecessary use of horn, and leaving your vehicle while the engine is running are just some of the offences Bahamians can be cited for. Sgt Chrislyn Skippings said police "are not letting up" and failing to follow the rules of the road will result in a traffic ticket. "Police wish to remind those drivers who refuse to adhere that we will enforce the law and place you before the courts," she said. "We want to encourage them to abide by the rules, it's for their own safety." If drivers wish to avoid getting a traffic citation, Sgt Skippings said they only need to adhere to the law. "They know the laws because every driver would have to go through a set of guidelines prior to getting a licence," she said. "They are informed of the offences." If drivers are unaware o the laws, information can be obtained from police stations and online. Last year, Inspector Anthony Curtis of the police traffic division said most persons who are cited simply need to be more patient when behind the wheel. He explained that when drivers are in "bumper-to-bumper traffic" tensions can run high. "Mostly, we want to avoid injuries and fatalities out on the roads," Insp Curtis said. "We need courtesy and patience from drivers." He said some of the most common offences seen are persons driving with unlicenced vehicles, failing to keep left, and driving with one headlight. Other offences drivers can be cited for include: driving with loud music, driving with an unsecured load, unlicenced and uninspected vehicles, no ID plates, licence disk not properly fixed, causing obstruction on the road, driving on a closed or prohibited street, and heavily tinted windows.