Road Safety Unit gets portable breathalysers

The operational capability of the Road Safety Unit has been further boosted with the addition of five portable breathalysers, valued at US$2,500 (J$329,100).

The devices were donated to the unit by Carib Cement Company Limited as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.

A portable breathalyser is a wireless, hand-held device that monitors a user’s breath alcohol content.

Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Transport and Mining, yesterday, Transport Minister Robert Montague said that the devices are welcomed and would support and enhance the operations at the unit.

Montague said that while the Road Safety Unit has been doing a commendable job in promoting road safety and awareness, citizens need to take greater responsibility when using the nation’s roads.

He said that with 25 road deaths since the start of the year, “we have to, as a country and a people, begin to decelerate the rate of road fatalities.”

Last year, the country recorded 386 road fatalities.

Montague commended Carib Cement for the devices, as well as their initiative to establish their own safety driving school within the company this year.

“We want to encourage other fleet owners so to do, because every life we save on the road is worth every investment that we would have made,” he said.