Traffic boss going easy on motorists
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bishop Gary Welsh, who is in charge of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, says he has been giving a ‘bly’ to motorists who have been in breach of the traffic laws.
“In the last three days, I have given 140 chances because that is my right to do. I believe that I should educate people first before I hold them accountable,” Welsh said.
He was speaking at a press conference held at the intersection of Dunrobin Avenue and Lindsay Crescent yesterday, where an errant motorist, Dennis Dietrih, was given the chance to walk away without being prosecuted.
Dietrih’s black Mercedes-Benz motor car was captured on video performing a stunt at the very spot last Friday. The video went viral on social media.
“I am really, really sorry about this. I didn’t know it would get big like this. I was just having some fun with the car because it is a fast car. When you are around the steering sometimes, it makes you a bit
aggressive. The car itself is an aggressive car, so sometimes it makes you do things you nuh really think about, but it won’t happen again,” he said.
Seeking to explain what happened, Dietrih suggested that his actions were driven by the power of the car.
“When you are around the steering, sometimes it kind of [gets] you a little bit aggressive because the car is an aggressive car. It makes you do things that you don’t really think, it just happened. So you just go with the flow but as I said it won’t happen again,” he said.
SLAP ON THE WRIST
Meanwhile, Welsh said the occasion must not be seen as the driver receiving a slap on the wrist because he was not charged for an offence.
Instead, it is an example for the police to use, to point out to the public what is unacceptable on the island’s roads.
Data from the Road Safety Unit indicates that 276 persons have been killed due to traffic crashes since the start of the year.
Of that number, vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, pedestrians, pedal cyclists and pillions account for 64 per cent of fatalities.
Welsh said that Dietrih may not have been so lucky to get off with a public apology had he not turned himself over to the police.
“We called out our squads and we were going to go out and get him. Fortunately, he came in and we didn’t have to do that. He has not been receiving special treatment. On this occasion, we have used what we call discretion,” he said.