22 lives lost in motor lorry accidents so far for 2024- Home Affairs Ministry
Some 22 persons have lost their lives in 2024 to motor lorry accidents, and with just weeks left in the year.
To prevent further tragedies, the Home Affairs Ministry has partnered with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), and companies like AKT Motorcycles/Unicomer and Ansa McAl to launch the “Do the Right Thing” campaign as part of Road Safety Month 2024. The initiative aims to boost awareness and encourage safer behaviour on Guyana’s busy roads—particularly around large trucks, whose blind spots have led to deadly accidents.
“A central message of the campaign is the need for caution around large trucks, which have extensive blind spots that limit the driver’s visibility of other road users,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The woman at Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast of Demerara (ECD) trying to cross the road just seconds before she was crushed by a sand truck
The Ministry emphasised that each life lost represents a family torn apart and that even a small habit, like staying mindful of a truck’s blind spots, could mean the difference between life and death.
Large trucks are vital for transporting goods across Guyana, yet they pose unique dangers due to their blind spots. Unlike cars, motor lorries have significant visibility challenges, with areas around the front, sides, and rear where the driver cannot easily see other road users. The Ministry hopes to address this often-overlooked risk with an illustrated guide highlighting these blind spots, urging drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to avoid them whenever possible.
A recent accident where a truck turned turtle in Lethem, Region Nine. One person died in the accident
“The Ministry urges all road users to ‘Do the Right Thing’ by staying vigilant, avoiding these blind spots whenever possible, and respecting the limitations of large vehicles,” the Ministry’s statement added. “Keeping out of truck blind spots is a simple step that can help make the road safer for everyone.”
Though the current death toll of 22 is slightly down from last year’s 24 during the same period, the Ministry recognises there is more work to be done. Through community outreach, posters, and media coverage, the “Do the Right Thing” campaign seeks to instill a sense of shared responsibility across the nation, reminding all road users that safety starts with awareness and respect.
The campaign’s reach goes beyond just drivers. “It’s not just a message for drivers,” they continued. “Cyclists, pedestrians, parents, everyone—if we all look out for each other and stay out of these dangerous blind spots, we can reduce these tragic incidents. Road safety is in everyone’s hands.”
