151 deaths from 129 accidents recorded so far in 2023 – Traffic Chief

– motorcyclists most prevalent among fatalities, speeding main cause

The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s) Traffic Department has recorded a 71 per cent increase in road fatalities across the country, resulting in the deaths of a little more than 150 persons thus far in 2023.
Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh, on Wednesday, during the launch of the GPF’s Annual Christmas Plan, give an update on the traffic situation in the country covering the period January to November, 2023. According to Singh, a total of 2264 accidents were recorded so far this year, reflecting a nine per cent decrease, or some 200 less accidents than the 2464 cases in 2022.
Based on the temporal and spatial analysis provided by the Traffic Chief, there were 129 fatal accidents during this period, compared to 81 such accidents last year; that is, a 59 per cent increase. This year, the fatalities from these accidents amounted to 151 – a 71 per cent increase from the 88 deaths in 2022.
The comparative figures show the following: five children were killed during the reporting period in both years. Serious accidents went down by 19 per cent, from 323 last year to 263 so far in 2023. There was a reduction in minor accidents, with 471 cases reported this year compared to 565 last year, representing a 17 per cent decrease. A seven per cent decline was also recorded in the damage accident category, with 1401 cases reported in 2023 in comparison to 1495 last year.
“This was achieved through significant efforts invested and/or total manageable enforcement by all ranks throughout the country,” Singh noted.
Moreover, the Traffic Chief outlined that only three of the 12 Police regional divisions recorded increases in accidents. These are: Regional Divisions #2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), which had a 40 per cent increase, with 56 cases this year compared to 40 in 2022. From these accidents, there were six fatalities so far in 2023, compared to two last year.
Regional Division #4 ‘B’ (East Bank Demerara) also recorded a one per cent increase, with 231 accidents this year, compared to 229 in the previous year. There were 17 deaths from accidents in 2023, against 14 last year.
And Regional Division #6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) had 193 accidents, with 16 fatalities so far this year, compared with 164 accidents and 10 deaths recorded in 2022. This represents a 17 per cent increase.
The other nine divisions across Guyana recorded a reduction in their traffic statistics, including in the capital city, where there was a nine per cent decrease, with 1363 accidents recorded this year compared to 1499 in the previous year.

Georgetown traffic statistics
In fact, during a separate presentation on Wednesday, Commander of Regional Division #4 ‘A’ (Georgetown), Simon McBean, revealed that there were 26 fatalities this year, against 20 last year.
According to the Commander, a total of 3740 traffic-related cases were made out as at November 13 this year, compared to 3887 in 2022. Of the cases filed so far in 2023, there were 2576 arrests made, and 278 summons were issued along with 886 ticketed offences.
McBean further disclosed that Rupert Craig Highway and Mandela Avenue are prevalent locations for accidents – most of which occurs between midnight and 03:00h.

Speeding
The Georgetown Commander further outlined that speeding is the main cause of fatal accidents in the Division, with 47 per cent; followed by inattentiveness, with 21 per cent. The 21 to 40 age range accounts for the most significant number of accident victims, with 78 per cent in Georgetown.
A breakdown of the overall traffic statistics across the country similarly identified speeding as the major cause of accidents, and also showed motorcyclists as the most prevalent category of victims to die.
Singh highlighted, “The categories of road users who would have lost their lives comparatively, we saw in 2022 the order being pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers… When you fast further to 2023, there is slight change, whereby motorcyclists are in the lead, followed by pedestrians, drivers themselves, occupants in motorcars, and pedal cyclists.”
It was further revealed that there was an almost 90 per cent increase in total traffic cases made out so far this year; that is, 68,602 cases compared to 35,486 in 2022.
“Speeding has amounted to more than 15,000 tickets issued from January 1, 2023 to now… DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) continue (to be a prevalent cause as well) with more than 1000 cases. We would have had several persons charged and placed before the courts, and the fines range from $50,000 to $200,000. Publications are made periodically, informing the members of public how some of us…conduct ourselves when we’re under the influence,” the Traffic Chief posited.
Additionally, Singh reported that August 2023 has recorded the highest number of fatal accidents, with 27. Since then, according to the Traffic Chief, there has been a significant reduction in those figures.
Singh also outlined that the time period 18:00h to midnight is the prevalent time for fatal accidents in Guyana, with 58 of them being recorded during the reporting period this year. These accidents occur mostly on the main thoroughfares across the country.
According to the Traffic Chief, this analysis helps the Traffic Department with refocusing their policing operations to areas where these accidents are prevalent in the country.
“This type of analysis helps us to understand better where our problems lie… [Consequently] our shifts, that is, our placement of traffic ranks, has been realigned to ensure visibility either on foot, motorcars, or motorcycles. It helps us to prioritise where our presence should be in each regional division. That realignment has been done…,” Singh stated. (G-8)