As concerns are being raised over the rise in death on the roadways as a result of the use of electric motorcycles in Guyana, the death of a 45-year-old man has been announced as the newest road fatality.
Dead is Hawatt Greenidge, whose electric bike collided with a motor lorry as he was riding along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.
The truck driver, whom Police said is a Trinidadian, was driving motor lorry GZZ 8550, and was proceeding south along Nelson Mandela Avenue, whilst the electric cycle was proceeding in the same direction in the pedal cycle lane.
The motor lorry that struck Hawatt Greenidge down
The driver of the truck told Police he drove past the cyclist and the left rear wheel of the motor lorry might have collided with the cyclist, causing him to fall onto the road surface along with the electric cycle, where the lorry wheel then drove over the cyclist’s head, crushing him.
He said he continued to proceed further south, where an unknown motor car driver stopped him and informed him that he collided with a cyclist. He was later arrested by the Police.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced the cyclist dead at the scene.
His body was identified by his relatives and was escorted to the Memorial Funeral Home where it is presently awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, a notice of Intended Prosecution was served on the driver of the motor lorry. A breathalyser test conducted on him found no trace of alcohol.
He is presently in police custody assisting with further investigations.
Electric bikes
Just last month, the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) expressed concern over persons, including minors, and their reckless use of electric bikes on the roadways.
According to Traffic Chief Dennis Stephens, not only is it dangerous to have underage persons riding electric bikes but there have been a lot of fatalities since this type of transport became popular in the country.
Electrical bikes are not registered by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), thus leaving their operation unchecked.
As such, Stephens had said the GPF was engaging the GRA and the Legal Affairs Ministry, to seek advice on what could be done about the usage of electric bikes in Guyana.
He said apart from the cycles not being registered, they have no insurance or fitness.
Assistant Superintendent Raun Clark, Officer-in-Charge of traffic in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), in November 2021, slammed the use of e-bikes on public roadways. Clark said there was no law the Traffic Department could enforce against the users of those cycles as he raised concerns over the lack of age limit for their use.
Similarly, earlier this year, Divisional Traffic Officer of Division 4A – (Georgetown), Deputy Superintendent Timothy Williams contended that the use of e-bikes would require the creation of policies that would need to be strongly reinforced to cater to those citizens who traverse the roadways with the controversial e-bikes. (G9)
