Automated enforcement & third-lane driving

The persistent problem of illegal third-lane driving on Guyana’s roads has long posed a serious threat to safety and order. For years, motorists have exploited gaps in enforcement, creating unauthorised lanes to bypass traffic. This behaviour, often flaunted with brazen disregard for the law, has resulted in collisions, sudden swerving, and congestion that disrupts the daily flow of commuters. Recent upgrades to the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) signal a decisive shift in the management of this longstanding issue, demonstrating the power of automation in enforcing traffic regulations consistently and effectively.
The newly enhanced SRIS platform employs advanced video-analytics technology to detect vehicles unlawfully occupying turning lanes or carving shortcuts where no lane exists. Each violation is captured in high definition, documenting the vehicle’s speed, lane position, and licence plate number. This evidence provides an irrefutable basis for enforcement, allowing the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to initiate legal proceedings against violators with accuracy and reliability. By automating this process, authorities no longer need to rely solely on manual observation, which is limited by human presence, fatigue, or error. The SRIS thus ensures that traffic regulations are applied uniformly, leaving no room for selective enforcement or assumption of immunity by reckless drivers.
Recent statements from Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh indicate that more than 45 drivers are expected to be summoned to court for creating and using unauthorised third lanes. This immediate enforcement demonstrates the system’s effectiveness and the authorities’ determination to hold offenders accountable. For years, drivers have complained about the unsafe practice, particularly during peak hours, when unauthorised lane formation creates dangerous conditions for all road users. By capturing clear, verifiable evidence of infractions, the upgraded SRIS addresses these concerns directly, providing both deterrence and recourse.
Support for the SRIS enhancement is well-founded. Road safety is a collective responsibility, and automation ensures that accountability is not dependent on the presence of an officer at any given intersection. For too long, some drivers have assumed that they could flout the rules with impunity, relying on gaps in enforcement to bypass traffic or gain minor advantages on congested roads. The upgraded system removes these opportunities, making it clear that violations are continuously monitored and that evasion is no longer possible. This serves to penalise dangerous behaviour and also to reinforce a culture of compliance that benefits all motorists.
Critics may argue that automated enforcement is impersonal or intrusive, but such objections overlook the practical reality of modern traffic management. Peak-hour congestion and high traffic volumes make it impossible for officers alone to monitor every lane consistently. The SRIS, in contrast, operates without fatigue, bias, or interruption, ensuring that every violation is recorded and every offender is accountable. It does not replace policing; it enhances it. The combination of human oversight and technological precision provides the most effective means of curbing reckless driving.
Moreover, the upgraded system reflects a forward-looking approach to road safety. By monitoring more than 100 lanes nationwide, with expansion already planned, the SRIS ensures that enforcement keeps pace with the increasing complexity of traffic dynamics. Its video-analytics technology captures not only lane violations but also the broader behaviour patterns that contribute to accidents and congestion. This data-driven approach allows authorities to implement targeted interventions and provides evidence to support judicial proceedings, improving both efficiency and outcomes in traffic management.
The broader implications for road safety are significant. Unauthorised lane creation is not a minor infraction; it is a dangerous practice that contributes directly to accidents and traffic disruption. By holding violators accountable through automation, authorities are sending a clear and unequivocal message: reckless driving will not be tolerated. Drivers who have relied on lax enforcement to justify illegal behaviour will find that the law is now inescapable. Each vehicle, each violation, and each motorist is subject to scrutiny, reinforcing the principle that road safety is non-negotiable.
The upgraded SRIS platform is a turning point in the enforcement of traffic laws in Guyana. The crackdown on third-lane violations illustrates both the necessity and the effectiveness of automation in modern law enforcement. Reckless motorists are now confronted with an unambiguous reality: evasion is no longer possible, and the law, supported by intelligent monitoring, will be applied consistently.