Cattle owners urged to secure livestock amid rising road accidents

The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department is urging cattle owners to properly secure their animals, after four cows were struck and killed on the East Bank Public Road in the early hours of Friday morning.

The incident has reignited concerns about stray livestock posing serious hazards to motorists, particularly on highways where speeding is common.
Speaking on a recent televised programme “Road Safety and You”, Traffic Officer of Division 4B, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Inspector Michael Ramdas, highlighted the dangers of loose animals on public roads, stressing that owners must take responsibility for securing their livestock.
“We are asking, if you are minding your animals, please don’t leave them on the roadway to sleep in the night, or have them all over the place. Get a pasture or pen and keep your animals inside,” he urged.
He has expressed concerns over a growing trend where cattle owners deliberately avoid branding their livestock, making it difficult to determine ownership in the event of an accident or theft.

“If by chance cattle rustlers get these animals, let’s say they steal them, how will you identify them?” the inspector questioned.
The dangers posed by stray animals are not limited to property damage but extend to the potential loss of human life.
“If a motorcycle hits one of these animals, it might cost them their life,” Inspector Ramdas warned.
Given the high speeds at which vehicles travel, particularly at night, the presence of animals on the road significantly increases the risk of fatal collisions.
Authorities are also calling on drivers to be more cautious, especially in areas where livestock may be present. The unpredictability of loose animals, combined with reduced visibility at night, creates a hazardous situation for both drivers and pedestrians.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Earl Lambert, acknowledged the concerns raised by the public, stating that many road users have reported incidents of cattle straying onto highways, particularly along the Heroes Highway and other major routes.
He emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility, urging both motorists and cattle owners to play their part in preventing accidents.
Traffic ranks continue to conduct enforcement exercises along the East Bank corridor, particularly in high-risk areas. However, officers stress that the problem can only be fully addressed if livestock owners take proactive steps to secure their animals and prevent them from roaming onto public roads.
“This is a warning and a message, and I hope that you adhere to it,” Lambert said.
With road safety a growing concern, officials are calling on the public to report instances of stray animals on major roadways, and to support efforts aimed at reducing road fatalities.