Breathalyser testing coming, says Lashley

MINISTER of Transport Michael Lashley is putting some Crop Over revelers on notice: do not drink and drive or else.

During a Press conference today to launch the ministry’s road safety public awareness campaign, Lashley said legislation to govern breathalyser and drug testing and distracted driving on mobile devices was closer to being passed than some may think.

“It is a work in progress . . . but we hope after the Budget we should be able to debate in Parliament and have it passed – maybe June or July. I have signed off on the ministry’s position and accepted the provisions . . . .

“We just have to get it on the Parliament timetable . . . so those who want to go party for Crop Over and believe they can go and drink [and drive] then by the next Crop Over we should have the machinery in place to make the [Road Safety] Act enforceable,” he said.

The road safety campaign is collaboration between various parties such as the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), the General Insurance Association of Barbados, the Barbados Road Safety Association, the Royal Barbados Police Force and filmmakers.  They will produce a media blitz which will be released on television, radio, social media, print and flyers.

It will include four television ads created by local filmmakers, spearheaded by MTW technician Clish Gittens.

They will be called “Afternoon Ride”, “Must Stop”, “Click In”, and “The Road is Not a track”. The latter will feature motor sport racer Justin Campbell, who is an ambassador for the campaign. (CA)