The new year has kickstarted with alarming traffic statistics, which shows a 100 per cent increase in road fatalities when compared to the same period in 2022.
Providing statistics on Tuesday, the Home Affairs Ministry noted with grave concern, the growing number of road fatalities which have occurred for the year thus far.
For the period January 1 to February 18, 2023, 16 persons were killed when compared with eight persons for 2022. This is a 100 per cent increase.
It was shared that pedestrian fatalities increased by 25 per cent, whereas approximately 44 per cent of motorcyclists were killed during the same period compared to last year.
Comparative data has shown that as of February 18, 16 persons were killed on the roads as a result of 14 accidents, when compared with the same period for 2022 when 8 persons died from 7 accidents.
According to the data provided, 41 serious accidents were recorded, while 39 serious accidents occurred during the same period in 2022, indicating a five per cent increase during the period. Data also clearly indicates that fatal accidents occur primarily on Sundays and Fridays between the hours of 18:00h and 05:59h, with male drivers accounting for 81 per cent of all deaths.
“With the advent of the new Government, we were able to reduce road deaths by 30 per cent in 2021 and 2022, with less than 100 persons killed for the first time in 16 years. This achievement of the previous two years will be extremely difficult to maintain at the present rate of road fatalities,” the Ministry has pointed out.
A further review of more measures to promote road safety is currently being undertaken through a collaborative effort by the Home Affairs Ministry, the Guyana Police Force, the Traffic Department, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and the Education Ministry.
“This increase in road fatalities appears to be a daily occurrence, and the indications are that reckless driver behaviour, attributable to excessive speeds, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without due care and attention (or inattentiveness), tailgating, and driving while tired is the common cause.”
The Ministry said the fact that effective preventative strategies do exist makes this situation all the more unacceptable. It was stated that the five Cs – Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Common sense – taught at driving schools seemed to have been ‘forgotten or ignored’ altogether by many motorists.
“Motorists are failing to observe the fundamental principle of safe driving, which is to maintain a safe braking distance and not exceed the required speed limits. The Ministry notes that this situation necessitates stringent law enforcement. It is simply not acceptable that Guyanese continue to perish and be injured on the roadways,” a statement outlined.
The Home Affairs Ministry said that it had been continuously collaborating with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive action plan to reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030. This coupled with all road users taking personal responsibility by adhering to road safety measures and guidelines.
On November 7, 2022, the National Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022 to promote and enforce safe driving while imposing much higher penalties for serious infractions.
The National Road Safety Council’s financial resources have been boosted from $3 million to more than $11 million, which will aid in the sensitisation and reduction of road accidents.
“Through advocacy, training, and education, the Ministry is committed to providing evidence-based road safety knowledge and awareness programmes to create a culture of safety among all road users and address high-risk behaviours among young adults and the broader road-using community. As part of corporate social responsibility, the Ministry is encouraging private sector participation in augmenting national efforts to promote road safety awareness.”
Meanwhile, the Traffic Department has also been intensifying efforts to prevent speeding on the roads, but despite these efforts, deaths on our roadways continue to be problematic. The PPP/C Government has been spending considerable sums of money to upgrade roads and highways, as well as installing lights and CCTV cameras at strategic points, which improve infrastructure and safety for all road users.
The Ministry added, “There is no justification for not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt. An accident may occur at any time, but our safety and that of others should be prioritised over convenience, as the case may be. Not only is it the law to wear a helmet or a seatbelt at all times, but it only takes a few seconds to do so. We all have a role to play in the prevention of road accidents. It cannot be the responsibility of the Police Traffic Department alone.”
Despite the encouragement given to motorists with the free distribution of safety helmets, a large number of motorists continue to ride without helmets, and, persons are transporting women and children on motorcycles without helmets at high speeds. This practice, the Ministry said, must be stopped. (G12)
