642 lives lost on Guyana roads in 5 years

…road safety must be a daily practice, not a once-a-year campaign – PM Phillips

Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has called on all Guyanese to make road safety a daily practice rather than a once-a-year campaign, noting that more than 640 people have lost their lives on the country’s roadways in the past five years, including 24 children. The PM was speaking on Friday at the launch of Road Safety Month 2025 at the Bush Lot Community Centre, West Coast Berbice (WCB), where he described the current situation as a national concern that requires urgent and collective action. “Between 2020 and 2024, Guyana recorded 574 fatal accidents resulting in 642 deaths. Each number tells a story of pain that cuts sharply through families and communities,” he said, urging citizens to view every statistic as a preventable tragedy. According to data cited by the PM, the pattern of fatal accidents over the last five years underscores the need for behavioural change. The breakdown of accidents and loss of lives on the roadways showed that in 2020 there were 125 accidents and 139 deaths; 2021: 92 accidents and 97 deaths; 2022: 92 accidents and 99 deaths; 2023: 148 accidents and 175 deaths; and 2024: 117 accidents and 132 deaths.
Phillips said the launch must serve as a “call to action” for every road user – drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and passengers – to take personal responsibility for safety on the roadways. He lamented that many of the victims are young and productive people who play an essential role in the country’s development.
“We cannot afford to lose our young, productive people, our ‘not-so young’, but still productive people. Those are the people we need to keep Guyana going and growing,” he stressed. The PM noted that while Guyana’s economy is expanding rapidly and vehicle ownership has increased, unsafe practices such as reckless driving, speeding and driving under the influence continue to cost lives. Phillips explained that most fatal accidents occur between 6 pm and midnight, often due to fatigue, poor visibility, or impaired driving, while Sundays remain the most dangerous day on the nation’s roads. “These are warning signs that demand behavioural change. When you are driving late at night or returning from a social gathering, slow down, designate a driver and avoid alcohol. You are responsible not only for your own life but for the lives of others sharing the road,” he said.
Emphasising that safety begins with personal discipline, PM Phillips urged drivers to adopt what he called the five Cs of driving — care, caution, courtesy, consideration and common sense. “Your vehicle is a privilege, not a weapon… Never drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. A single lapse in judgement – a glance at a phone or a careless overtake – can end a life.”

Government’s commitment
The PM reaffirmed the Government’s ongoing commitment to making Guyana’s roads safer through education, enforcement and infrastructure upgrades.
He pointed to initiatives such as the Smart Road Programme, which includes radar-based speed limit and seatbelt detection systems, improved lighting and signage in high-risk areas, and strengthened traffic enforcement by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Phillips also appealed to persons in positions of influence not to interfere in police operations when traffic offences are committed, stating that allowing the police to do their job helps strengthen public safety. “When those of us in positions of authority don’t get involved and allow the police to do their work, that action contributes to safety on our streets,” he asserted. While enforcement is vital, Phillips said education and empathy remain the foundation of a safer road culture. He encouraged parents, teachers and students to continue promoting basic safety practices, such as using pedestrian crossings and obeying traffic lights.
“The conversation you have at the dinner table about crossing the street safely could be the one that saves a life,” he reminded. As he declared Road Safety Month 2025 officially open under the theme “Careful Driving Saves Lives”, PM Phillips urged all citizens to commit to reducing accidents and fatalities through simple but consistent actions. “Guyana’s roads should not be places of fear. They should connect families and communities safely. We must change the culture of driving, one driver, one pedestrian, one community at a time,” he said. Road Safety Month is being observed nationwide with a series of educational campaigns, community outreaches, and school awareness activities aimed at promoting safer driving habits and reducing traffic fatalities across Guyana.