The last few weeks have seen a spate of Road Traffic Accidents on Gibraltar’s roads, mainly caused by a mixture of excessive speed, dangerous driving and a lack of consideration for other road users.

It may be of interest to note the number of motoring offences officially reported by RGP officers since the start of this year:

January

Driving Under the Influence of Drink/Drugs - 8

Dangerous Driving - 5

Speeding – 20

Driver not wearing seat belt – 8

Driving whilst using a mobile phone – 19

Contravening Traffic Signs (including Traffic Lights) – 20

Other Traffic offences - 34

February

Driving Under the Influence of Drink/Drugs - 4

Dangerous Driving – 2

Speeding – 83

Driver not wearing seat belt – 17

Driving whilst using a mobile phone – 59

Contravening Traffic Signs (including Traffic Lights) – 52

Other Traffic offences – 46

March (1 – 23)

Driving Under the Influence of Drink/Drugs - 5

Dangerous Driving - 4

Speeding – 49

Driver not wearing seat belt - 14

Driving whilst using a mobile phone – 31

Contravening Traffic Signs (including Traffic Lights) – 40

Other Traffic offences – 118

Totals (1 Jan – 23 Mar 2021)

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol - 17

Dangerous Driving - 11

Speeding – 152

Driver not wearing seat belt – 39

Driving whilst using a mobile phone –109

Contravening Traffic Signs (including Traffic Lights) – 112

Other Traffic offences – 198

These figures are even more alarming when we consider that, for much of January, Gibraltar was in lockdown and, for the whole of January, February and March, there was a night-time curfew.

Whilst the RGP will take every opportunity to enforce traffic laws, Gibraltar’s motorists need to take a long, hard look at themselves – do they ever exceed any speed limits? Do they ever drive when they have been drinking? Do they ever use their phone whilst driving?

As a consequence of recent accidents, the RGP has formed a Traffic Taskforce consisting of Traffic officers, Neighbourhood Police and Shift officers. This Taskforce will be deployed several times a week, in addition to the officers on Operation Drive Safe.

Commissioner of Police, Richard Ullger said: “Although we have created this new taskforce, it is impossible to have police officers on every road, 24 hours a day. However, whilst our officers will always use discretion and take a zero-tolerance approach to enforcing the traffic laws against bad and inconsiderate driving, it is also a matter of educating our drivers and making them more responsible for their actions. The penalty for bad driving should not be measured in the number of fines and driving bans. It should also be measured in the number of injuries and even deaths on our roads.”