Drastic measures needed to rein in reckless road users – AG

By Jarryl Bryan

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has signalled that the Government is reviewing its existing laws and considering drastic measures, in order to rein in reckless road users who break the laws, whether through speeding, playing loud music among other offences.

During the recent edition of Issues in the News, Attorney General Anil Nandlall spoke of the high instances of accidents in Guyana. He pointed out that per capita, Guyana has an unusually high number of accidents that likely exceeds other countries in the hemisphere.
“We have to find ways and means of curbing the negligent driving taking place on our roadways. And the negligence generally exhibited by road users in our country. We cannot continue with the carnage and the wanton destruction.”
“The open carelessness which takes place on the roadways of our country, resulting in injuries and deaths over and above what we can afford as a country. We’re still a very small population. And we must have, statistically, per capita, the highest incidence of road accidents and road fatalities.”
There are also the drivers who play loud music on the roadways, also against the law. The Attorney General also pointed to the real-life dangers that innocent drivers face on the road, through no fault of their own.
“Have you ever heard, anywhere else in the world, the vehicle horn used in the way it is used in Guyana? Have you ever heard, anywhere else in the world, the level of decibels coming out of music systems in vehicles, as you hear in Guyana? I don’t hear them. Something is seriously wrong and we have to address them. And drastic situations require drastic measures.”
“You may be driving very carefully on the road, sober as a judge. But there is a man whose vehicle is coming at you, like a lethal weapon, because of his carelessness… and for no reason at all, you can become paralysed. You can lose a limb. You can suffer serious injuries. Worse yet, you can die,” he said.
He explained that the measures being looked at are a work in progress, including the possibility of mandating increased insurance coverage. While this may result in increased premiums and increased fares, the lack of coverage is a sore issue for many drivers who are forced to fix their own vehicles out of pocket.

“As I’ve said, we have passed laws. We are reviewing policies. And we are implementing measures, as we continue to fight against the reckless use of our roadways. It’s a work in progress… as a considerate Government, we have deliberately kept the insurance at a particular level, because of the impact it will have on persons being able to afford insurance.”
“And that is why we have kept it, because once that law is changed and the insurance coverage increases, then minibus fares will increase. Taxi fares will increase. And it will have a ricochet effect on cost of living. But a lot of people are complaining against it. And Government may have to take a second look at the situation.”
Only last week, the Traffic Department saw a staggering total of 346 cases in one day… almost 100 of which were for speeding offences, with an additional incident involving driving under the influence (DUI). Comparatively, the previous day saw a total of 383 recorded cases. Out of these, 72 were related to speeding and five involved DUIs.
Efforts to curb these violations have been bolstered by sustained education programmes. These initiatives encompass lectures delivered in schools, and for drivers, bar owners, and individuals frequenting entertainment venues throughout the country.
Just two days prior, the GPF announced that 494 traffic cases were recorded across all regional Police Divisions in Guyana in a single day. Among those cases, 120 were for speeding violations, and 10 drivers were apprehended for DUI.
The Police Force has also announced that it has implemented suggestion boxes, and collaboration with members of the Regional Road Safety Councils and other partners is ongoing. These initiatives are all aimed at fostering a positive shift in the mindset of motorists and enhancing public safety on the roadways.