16 speeding violations recorded in EBD Police crackdown

In a continued effort to improve road safety, officers from the Madewini Police Outpost Traffic Department conducted a traffic exercise on the Soesdyke-Linden and Timehri Public Roads, East Bank Demerara, on Saturday. The exercise, which took place between 07:00h and 11:00h, resulted in several traffic violations being recorded.

A total of 16 drivers were cited for speeding, while one driver was charged for failing to produce a valid driver’s license upon request. The operation is part of the Guyana Police Force’s ongoing initiative to tackle reckless driving in the region, particularly speeding, which has been a growing concern along the East Bank Demerara corridor.
This exercise follows a similar one conducted two weeks ago, where 26 speeding tickets were issued to drivers along the Heroes Highway. In addition to the speeding violations, the earlier exercise saw one driver charged for failure to comply with police directions, another for using abusive language, and others for having obstructed or tinted vehicle registration plates. These combined efforts brought the total number of cases to 30.
The police crackdown is aligned with recent statements by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who announced measures to suspend the licenses of drivers caught speeding more than three times on the Heroes Highway. The new penalty aims to address the increasing number of road accidents and reckless driving, particularly by truck and public transport operators.
The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has been issuing a significant number of fines in 2024, with over 60,000 tickets issued to date, totaling approximately $400 million in fines. The department has also been working in coordination with the government, which has recently passed amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, toughening penalties for drunk driving and other traffic-related offenses.
While road fatalities have decreased in 2024, with 99 deaths reported compared to 148 in 2023, authorities are committed to further reducing accidents. The government is also planning to introduce speed advisories and digital speed boards along major roadways to enhance road safety.