If any one has any complaining to do about the RCIPS’s seasonal police road safety crackdown this year, codenamed Operation Christmas Cracker, beginning on Monday 28th Nov., we have only ourselves to blame.

“Last year we were so disappointed by the blatant disregard that people showed for safety on our roads that we called for a multi-agency national road safety strategy to be developed,” said Superintendent Adrian Seales. “Since then the working group has worked closely with Government and we’re pleased to say that many of the recommendations we made to make Cayman’s roads safer have been passed in the new Traffic Law. We’re particularly delighted that the cell phone driving epidemic is being addressed. That’s why we are calling for people to be responsible and use Christmas as an opportunity to give a gift that could save a life this year.”

Operation Christmas Cracker will not only be targeted at road safety. Home and business security will be high on the list including safety at sea and personal safety.

Expect road blocks day and night for the next five weeks where the police will be on hand to give you their usual cheery Christmas message of “good tidings” as you wait patiently in the traffic queues. If you get impatient remember it is for your own protection and, if you are drunk, for everyone else’s. If you plan any criminal activities I suggest you don’t. Police will be especially on the lookout for illegal drugs, guns and other weapons.

I strongly suggest to all who carry cellphones (is that everyone of us?) to make sure a hands free set is on your pre-Christmas shopping list. You are going to need it now.

If one life is saved by us being inconvenienced, even for 30 minutes or so, as we listen to the radio in our slow moving or stationary car, it is worth it. If one burglary is stopped, if one gun is found, if a single sachet of drugs is discovered, it will be worth it.

I will even help pull that RCIPS Christmas Cracker.