Former Police Commissioner Rawlston Pompey is pushing back against public calls for harsher traffic fines, arguing that meaningful road safety reform depends on education, training and disciplined enforcement—not simply increasing penalties.
In a sharply worded commentary, Pompey questioned suggestions reportedly made by a senior traffic officer and said the response appears driven “more by emotions than common sense.”
Pompey stressed that the issue has “never been about stiffer penalties,” noting that police officers do not impose penalties but instead enforce existing laws. He said the real focus should be on operational knowledge and proper chain of command within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda.
He outlined the hierarchy—from commissioner to deputy commissioner to traffic officers—before highlighting that junior ranks such as senior sergeants, sergeants, corporals and constables should not be the ones taking the lead on major policy prescriptions. He added that many senior ranks add only “numerical value,” while some officers of lower rank show initiative and potential and should be encouraged, formally trained and elevated through the system.
Pompey said effective road safety begins with basics: widespread public education, instructional programmes on safe driving, and community outreach through town halls, radio, television and pamphlets. He listed driving with due care, yielding, road courtesy, concentration and focus as “finer points” often overlooked.
Night-time driving presents particular risks, he said, because motorists cannot easily judge the width, distance or speed of oncoming vehicles—only their lights. Pompey also noted that ambulances and police vehicles are typically the easiest to identify at night because of their urgency in responding to emergencies or racing to meet operational demands.
Calling talk of harsher penalties “idiotic,” Pompey said enforcement must be balanced. Minor infractions should attract caution or warning under the “spirit of the law,” while serious offences such as reckless or dangerous driving and speeding should be prosecuted under the “letter of the law,” including the use of speed guns.
He recommended “rigid enforcement,” suspension of licences where necessary, and greater support from the magistracy—criticising what he described as guilty-plea magistrates, intimidating magistrates and “lazy magistrates,” none of whom he believes contribute to effective deterrence.
Pompey ended with a blunt directive to motorists: drive responsibly and carefully.
“WHAT THE HELL…! …DRIVE RESPONSIBLY… CAREFULLY,” he wrote.
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Sooooo..they have been educated for YEARS about the speeding laws and yet…NO Compliance… Hence, MORE education is needed?…Well lard..
For me, JUST CHARGE them some BIG money!!!