Belize Police Issue Easter Safety Alert: Urging Vigilance on Roads

The Easter holidays are here, and the Belize Police Department is urging the public to be extra vigilant at this time to ensure their safety. The department issued a public notice today, with safety recommendations in three targeted areas: traffic safety, burglary prevention, and water safety for those doing recreational swimming. A major recommendation coming from the department at this time is for persons to limit the consumption of alcohol if they have to drive. The department is also recommending that those who intend to have alcoholic drinks go with a designated driver. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams addressed general safety in a recent interview.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “At this time of the year we know that the lent season is one that many Belizeans would take for granted and it has troubled us for many years. We see an increase in the loss of lives not just on the highways but on the waterways and so we would normally encourage our people to exercise extreme caution when using the highways. Try to drive within speed limits. Do not drive recklessly. Stay on your side of the road and those who go to the waterways, always try to take somebody with you. Don’t go alone because sometimes you go into these rivers the water is so cold you catch a cramp. If nobody is there to assist you might just submerge and never resurface and so again try to go with somebody and do not go into water that is too deep that you will not be able to stand with your head above the water. And again the police and the police department will be working very closely with the Department of Transport countrywide on our highways to make sure that we do our part to mitigate the occurrences of traffic accidents on the highways around this time.”

There were several incidents reported over the Easter weekend last year, including a drowning and a fire in Roaring Creek that displaced a family of five.