Road safety association says the delay of breathalyzer testing is ‘wrong’

President of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) Sharmane Roland-Bowen has dismissed Government’s explanation for not starting breathalyzer testing on April 1 as a lame excuse.

Roland-Bowen, who has been calling for the introduction of breathalyzer testing for many years, told Barbados TODAY that she was not impressed that the measure had been put on hold.

“The point is that it is a lame excuse. I do not see the connection. This has nothing to do with breathalyzer and getting people home safely. To get the taxis now with metering systems and get taxis equipped and stuff like that will take longer. They want to please the people. They want people to have a Crop Over of drinking and driving and they will not feel it until something happens to hit close to them,” a disappointed Roland-Bowen said.

Attorney General Dale Marshall told another section of the media that Cabinet has agreed that now is not the time to proceed with the breathalyzer testing before metered taxi rates are implemented.

He said metered taxi rates are an important prerequisite because this will serve as an asset for persons enjoying the nightlife to have a certain system in place which will allow them to know how much they will be required to pay per route.

“We think that the two things must go hand in hand and therefore given that there is still significant amount of work to be done in the area of metered taxi rates we have determined that we would not, at this time, allow the breathalyzer to be launched,” Marshall said.

Earlier last month, Police Public Relations Officer Acting Inspector Rodney Inniss said the Barbados Police Service will be utilizing the breathalyzer testing from April 1, more than two years after the legislation came into effect. Inspector Inniss said officers have completed extensive training to use the devices.

The law which allows for the test to be administered came into effect on January 1, 2020, but implementation was stalled pending training for police officers and a public educational programme being rolled out.

However, the road safety advocate said that considering that the police officers have already been equipped with the necessary tools and training to carry out the testing, she is standing firm that Government has made the wrong move.

“This is wrong. This should not be happening. We should have a Government that cares about people’s health and safety. Safety on the roads too, not only wearing a mask. Driving is instant death. Even if you don’t care about your life, care about your family life. You know what it is when the police come to you telling you that your relative has been killed in a collision and then you realize it is a drunk driver?

“You know how many people talk about being involved in accidents and they can smell the alcohol licking them down from the persons but nothing can happen to the person? And now you’re thankful that you have the legislation, you have the equipment. . .,” Roland-Bowen said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb