Senior police officer suggests age increase for drivers of H vehicles

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Trevor Bailey has suggested that the age at which someone in St Vincent and the Grenadines is allowed to drive a public service vehicle should be increased.

“No one under the age of 25 should be granted any H license to drive public service vehicles.”

ACP Bailey made this point last Sunday, while speaking as a guest on the ‘Issue at Hand’ program on WE FM.

At present, in order to obtain an H license, a person must be 21 years or older, and must have had a valid driver’s license for six months.

Speaking about the “van culture” and the numerous accidents on our roads, ACP Bailey believes that maturity and experience in driving would help to reduce the number of vehicular accidents.

Apart from suggesting that ‘H’ drivers be 25 or older, the senior police officer is further suggesting that such persons must have no less than five years driving experience.

He also commented on how quickly some persons move from being conductor to driver, without gaining the necessary experience, or a level of maturity.

“With youthfulness, there is the youthful exuberance,” ACP Bailey cautioned.

To put another dent in the accident rate, ACP Bailey is further suggesting that traffic cops spend more time on the road.

As it is now, traffic officers are on the streets between the hours of 7:30 am and 5:30 pm.

He said these officers need to be on the road “well up to 8 o’clock on evenings.”

He added that right now, after 5 pm, van men believe that they are in charge, and that the streets belong to them.

ACP Bailey said he is hopeful to one day see traffic officers on the streets for longer periods.