New road laws to target use of cell phone while driving

The use of cellular phones while driving is among measures that could be outlined in a new Road Traffic Act for Dominica.

Superintendent of Police Yvonne Alexander told the launch of local activities on the Decade of Action on Road Safety at the Arawak house of culture on Friday that Dominica is looking to strengthen its Road Traffic Act.

She said the limitations of road safety in the current legislation are being reviewed.

“Among the areas that the UN is particularly interested in is in limiting speed, reducing drunk driving, increasing the use of seat belts, car seats and proper restraints for children and bicycle and motorcycle helmets. We do have laws in place for all of these but our challenge however, is that there are some limitations in the current legislation which is being addressed because there is a new draft legislation which we hope will address all of these challenges including cell phone use which is not currently in existence under our legislation,” she said.

She noted the great challenge of the police force is trying to impress upon drivers that they should take responsibility while on  the road.

“The police will always be limited. We will never have sufficient police officers to have on every street,in every community so the fact that there isn’t a police officer looking over your shoulders should not mean you cannot take responsibility for ensuring your safety and safety for others,” she said.

She says although there is an absence of speed limit signs in Dominica persons must drive responsibly.

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20 Comments

  1. really though
    September 27, 2011

    Police presence in Dominica seems almost non-existent. Visitors have been known to look forward to seeing a police officer in uniform as much as seeing the Sisserou in the wild. We really need more police but not only that, those that we have should be more actively involved in routine uniformed patrol.

  2. Marigot
    September 26, 2011

    fix the roads and that beach you all put at the end of the runway in melville hall for vehicles to pass through first,then you can open your mouth and talk about road safety. For now you can SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!

  3. So Sorry
    September 26, 2011

    how do you enforce speeding laws, signs alone are not enough. You have to prove i was driving 60 mph in a 30mph zone.

  4. Jayson
    September 26, 2011

    Try marking the roads around the island properly first.

    • The truth
      September 27, 2011

      What does that have to do with a cell phone?

  5. September 26, 2011

    SPEEDING SHOULD BE ENFORCED ALSO,THAT THE MAJOR PROPBLEM ON THE ROAD IN DOMINCA,,YOU GUYS SHOULD TARGETED THE MAJOR PROBLEM FIRST,I CANT BELIEVE WHY SOME OF THESE GUYS SPEEDING ON THAT NORROW ROAD.PLACED SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ON THE ROAD,

  6. Pedro
    September 26, 2011

    The act in itself has merit from a safety point of view. But from a practical point of view, drunk driving and lack of seat belts probably cause more injuries and fatalities yet are not enforced or dealt with under the law. The police need to get real about putting into effect what is already on the books and providing the means to do so (more presence on the road, vehicles etc). I do not think we are ready yet when it comes to public safety.

  7. for sure
    September 26, 2011

    them police officers need to stop drink and drive also, (some) always under the influence.when civilians seeing police officers who suppose to be the person enforcing not to drink and drive, doing what they doing ppl refuse to stop

  8. Justice and Truth
    September 26, 2011

    For once I wholeheartedly endorse the UN. The issue and concern is also to avoid injuries and preserve lives.
    Every one is fully aware that the use of cell phones and texting while driving could cause severe accidents and death.
    Hopefully this new proposed Law will be passed without much ado.
    Yes! The Police cannot be every where. Drivers should know that it is their obligation to drive responsibly. They should consider the result of failing to do so.
    Dominica does need to have speed limits, and in some areas, street lights, as when entering Roseau from the bridges and along the streets, the latter, a Police should be directing the traffic to allow pedestrians to safely cross the streets. This includes where there is heavy traffic.
    Better yet, the government should install “a Radar System” which will immediately catch speeding drivers. I realize this would be costly. Hopefully, it should be considered for the future as vehicular traffic increases.

    • dominican
      September 26, 2011

      look at countries whith so many good roads wide roads yet they have speed bumps and speed limits. the police also need the appropriate tools like breatherlizer tests and more traffic patrol vehicles and bikes to charge and to reduce ridders without helmets and drivers without seat belts. some of the laws are there but the resources to impliment the laws are not available.i have withnessed persons involved in accident having a strong smell of alcohol yet there are no tests done.just give 1 million to the police for improvements from the 27,000,000

  9. purcell
    September 26, 2011

    just wondering if any one has had this experience,we live in herberts east from since about two weeks ago we realize some thing strange happening to our phones we were not been able to make any calls or receive any calls from withen and around our area from about up to 150 ft around that area but what we did was to take the phones just liitle under a minute drive and test them their and to our surprise it works,we then drove back in the area and then again no call.signal was not a problem ,we then call digecel who then reported to us everything was good on their end when all this is happening we the would make a call from a phone on a nother frequency and it will work but on the other end they wound be a pounding noise.this i come to the conclusion that some one is jamming our cell phones which is very dangerous.yesterday sunday it started from about 15:30 and we could not receive any calls until after 12 am monday ,cell phone jammers are easy to get and is very dangerous can any one tell me what law is on the books to deal with this if some one is caught jamming peoples cell

    • Justice and Truth
      September 26, 2011

      @ purcell

      Why would they use cell phones jamming? How will it benefit them to do so? Would it be another competitor? I never thought that people would consider doing such a thing in addition to this item being sold.
      Since you are not able to utilize your cell phone, do not hesitate to request a credit from this Provider. You should not be paying for service which is not being delivered. This should also encourage the Provider to immediately investigate this serious matter.

      • purcell
        September 26, 2011

        go to cell phone jammers.com

  10. The Real 767
    September 26, 2011

    :mrgreen: It’s about time!

    I’m tired of driving behind the lawyers, and policemen and other persons in public light who talk and text while they driving!

    • etienne
      May 1, 2012

      why not cell should not be use while driving transport also drink drink driving as well let stop the killing with drink drining

  11. Why NOT
    September 26, 2011

    I do hope this cell phone law takes effect as soon as, because that law will also apply to the police officers who also use their phones while driving and to top it up, they are driving government vehicles….my tax money.

    To those BUS drivers who think that the road belongs to them and they can stop anyway even under the Canefield cliff where road works is being done…they should be charged an automatic $5000 for their stupid acts…putting passenger lives at risk. I travel on the bus every day and GOD help if anything were to happen to me and the bus driver survives…taking him to court is out of the question…my slave for life.

  12. timbok
    September 26, 2011

    as much as this is a positive law..they can’t enforce what they have like…unlicense vehicles…is cell phones they gonna enforced…smh

    • Cerberus
      September 26, 2011

      Have confidence in Supt. Alexander. You will underestimate her at your peril. I’ve found her to be serious,respnsive & dedicated and in my humble opinion we could do worse than having her serving as a commissioner!

  13. Satelite
    September 26, 2011

    Rubbish, total rubbish. I strongly agree with you that the need for cell phones laws or regulations need to be implemented, but when you say that there is an absence of speed limit signs in Dominica, you are talking total rubbish.

    My point is simple. The intention is to upgrade or improve the Traffic Act, right; should you not ensure that speed limit signs are one of the first things that must be thought of?” I mean you can’t get into a house if there is no access point” if you understand what I’m saying. It has been too long and I mean damn too long that Dominica’s roads are without speed limit signs, among other things

  14. zandoli
    September 26, 2011

    The UN dictates to us once again……

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