Senior police officers, who were initially encouraged by the public’s response to the new Traffic Law, are concerned that drivers are now becoming complacent, particularly when it comes to cellphone driving.

It’s been one month since the implementation of the law , which bans the use of cellphones (without a hands-free kit) while driving. In the first couple of weeks only a handful of tickets were issued in relation to driving while using a cellphone. However, one month into the ban, 45 (forty-five) people have now been issued with tickets fining them $150 for using their phones at the wheel.

“Initially we were encouraged by the response of the public to the ban,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales. “We have been talking about the dangers of cellphone driving for a long time and we welcomed the introduction of the law including the partial cellphone ban. We were aware it would take a huge cultural shift in the Cayman Islands for people to stop using their phones at the wheel, and that’s why we carried out an aggressive public education campaign in the weeks leading up to the start date – Friday 21 September.

“It’s extremely disappointing that complacency seems to be setting in. More drivers have been ticketed in the last half of the month than in the two weeks immediately following the implementation of the ban. My message to the minority who continue to use their phones without a hands-free kit is that they will be caught. I would urge them to use common sense. The legislation has been put in place for a very good reason – that reason is that cellphone driving is dangerous, it distracts drivers and could cause road crashes, serious injury or death.”

In addition to the traffic tickets issued for cellphone driving, in the past month:

• 88 people have been ticketed for failing to wear a seatbelt
• 22 for excessive tint
• 67 for defective lights
• 51 for speeding