22-year-old arrested in relation to traffic accident

Officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) National Traffic Department in Honiara have arrested a 22-year-old male person who was the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident at the Honiara City Council (HCC) roundabout early yesterday (16 April 2020) morning.

The vehicle involved in the accident is a black Toyota Caldina registration number MC-1266. There were two female passengers in the vehicle with the driver at the time of the accident. The three escaped without any injuries.

Director of the National Traffic Department Superintendent Fredrick Satu says, “The vehicle was travelling from one of the beaches west of Honiara to the Gilbert camp area in east Honiara to drop off his friends, when he was involved in the accident climbing onto the middle island from the western end of the HCC roundabout and hitting an electric post at the roundabout.”

“Officers attending the collision scene found out that the accused was very drunk and had no driving license. The accused was escorted to the National Traffic Centre at Kukum for a Random Breathalyser Test (RBT) which recorded 0.298% alcohol in his blood during the first test. When he was tested the second time ten minutes after the first test, it showed 0.220 %. The two readings are well above the legal limit of 0.04 %”

Superintendent Satu explains: “The accused was then escorted to the Honiara City Police Station watch house to be placed in the cell for further dealings. The accused was later dealt with on the same day and released on principal bail of $1000.00.”

The accused was charged with three counts of Careless Driving Contrary to section 40(1) of the Road Transport Act. Cap 131, Presence of Alcohol in Person’s blood contrary to section 43A (1) of the Road Transport Act. Cap 131 and driver to be licensed contrary to section 20 (1) of the Road Transport Act. Cap 131. The accused will appear before Honiara Central Magistrates’ Court on 5 May 2020 for his plea.”

“I want to strongly warn drivers of both public and private vehicles that drinking and driving is not safe for both passengers and drivers on board any vehicle. RSIPF continues to remind the public about this very important message but some people are not heeding the messages. Drivers are reminded that the laws are there to protect your own life and that of your passengers. We need to respect the laws. If you have to drink, please do not drive. Get someone else to drive or call a taxi to drop you,” Traffic Director Superintendent Satu emphasises.