Ruimveldt traffic section. carry out random breath tests to try to reduce road accidents
Corporal Dufu pulls over the minibus
Talk to the driver
Sergeant Scott conducts the breathing test
The spearhead of the operations Cadet officer, Stephen Harris flanks Sergeant Rolex Scott on the left and Corporal Benjamin Dufu to the right.
Kaieteur News – Ruimveldt Police Station’s traffic department has decided it’s time to reduce road accidents in its area by conducting random breath tests.
One such exercise was held yesterday afternoon and was led by Cadet Officer Stephen Harris along with Sergeant Rolex Scott and Corporal Benjamin Dufu.
The operation took place along Saffon Street in the vicinity of the police station.
Abandoned for the exercise, Kaieteur News dropped just in time to witness, Corporal Dufu pulling over a minibus.
He approached the driver, politely greeted him and then asked him (the driver) corporate with officers while taking a breath test.
The driver complied and followed Dufu to the station compound where he was directed to Sergeant Scott who conducted the test. Harris stood aside with his pen and notebook, noting the information necessary for his report.
That driver passed the test and was allowed to return to his bus and leave.
Dufu told this newspaper that this was the third exercise of the week so far.
Harris added that the three exercises so far have resulted in six drivers being arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Asked about the purpose of the operation, Dufu responded that the reason behind the random breath tests is to significantly reduce the number of road accidents caused by drunk driving.
It is quite clear, he continued, that drinking and driving contributed greatly to serious and fatal accidents, not only in his area but also in other police areas across the coast.
Kaieteur News had reported back in 2019 that speeding drinking and driving accounted for at least 90% of all road deaths recorded that year,
Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram also highlighted during a press conference held in November last year that his department had up to that date charged at least 786 people for drink driving in 2020 alone.