Police have announced a five-week holiday-season safety campaign targeting personal safety and drawing attention to Cayman’s new traffic law.

Calling on people to “enjoy the festive season, but be safe,” Superintendent for District Operations Adrian Seales said on Monday that police “were wrapping quite a lot of safety messages and education to promote personal safety, but also home and business security and safety at sea.

“During each week of the 28 November-4 January period, police would emphasise a different theme while delivering broad prescriptions for caution.

“We really would like to educate the public on the terms of the new traffic law,” Mr Seales said, predicting its promulgation “in January or so. Maybe a hands-free telephone kit would make an appropriate Christmas gift.”

Under the new legislation, passed earlier this month, motorists are forbidden to handle cellphones while at the wheel.

“We will be doing road blocks and check points,” he added, “and we are particularly addressing women, asking men not to invade their personal space, not to walk close behind them or close in front. Women should not hitchhike and, if in a nightclub, do not leave
drinks unattended.”

Mr Seales recommended a brief police-administered  course on home and business security, offering advice on self-protection and moving cash.

“We strongly discourage business owners from moving cash to a vehicle using a paper bag or a cloth one marked for cash,” he said, while advising care when handling banknotes in poor light.

“Be particularly careful at night because of counterfeit bills,” Mr Seeles said, “because the light is inadequate  and you may miss the signs.”

Safety at sea also figures prominently in the RCIPS campaign, asking particular attention of passengers, and recommending captains file a “float plan”, roughly similar to an aircraft flight plan.

“You can give it to local police or the Port Authority or even to a friend,” the superintendent said, “just so someone knows where you are going, how long you’ll be gone, what time you are going out and when you are due back.

“You should also have extra fuel on board. We have sometime had to venture well offshore to pull people back.

“None of this will be effective, though, without the cooperation of the public,” Mr Seales said. “We want to use education to ensure that everyone stay safe, and we will be doing foot and car patrols in high-visibility areas where shoppers and businesses are located.”