The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) recorded a decrease in overall traffic enforcement activity in 2024.
Meanwhile, fatal collisions and serious road safety concerns increased, according to the RCIPS 2024 Crime and Traffic Statistics Report.
There were 11 fatal collisions resulting in 14 deaths, compared to nine collisions and nine deaths in 2023.
The RCIPS reported a total of 2,286 motor vehicle collisions during the year, including 274 serious collisions – defined as those involving major injuries, substantial property damage or requiring emergency response.
Traffic enforcement declines
The total number of traffic-related summonses fell to 7,501 in 2024, down from 10,559 in 2023. This represents a 29% decrease in enforcement activity year-over-year.
Notable changes included:
- Speeding summonses: 3,215 issued (down from 5,403 in 2023)
- Driving without insurance: 371 cases
- Driving without a licence: 151 cases
- Careless driving: 110 cases
- Using a mobile phone while driving: 95 cases
According to the report, the decrease reflects a “recalibration of enforcement activities… to include targeted road operations, rather than fixed operations only”.
Despite the decline, speeding remained the most frequently cited offence, accounting for 43% of all traffic summonses.
Of those cited, 65% were travelling at least 15 mph over the speed limit, with some offenders recorded at 103 mph.
DUI cases remain high
RCIPS officers made 281 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) in 2024. Data from the Traffic and Road Policing Unit shows that:
- 67% of arrested drivers were over double the legal limit
- 25% were over three times the limit
The report notes that alcohol was a contributing factor in several of the year’s fatal collisions, though it does not specify the exact number of alcohol-related deaths.
Traffic strategy and road safety measures
The RCIPS continues to support the National Road Safety Strategy, a government initiative aimed at long-term traffic improvements.
In 2024, this included physical infrastructure upgrades such as lane delineators installed along Shamrock Road to help reduce head-on collisions and improve driver behaviour.
The agency also increased its use of “data-driven deployment” to focus traffic resources on high-risk areas, in coordination with the Cayman Islands Government and other stakeholders.
