Enforcing road discipline & saving lives

The tragic death of 15-year-old Annandale Secondary School student Navindra Mahes at Success, East Coast Demerara, has once again shaken national consciousness and brought to the forefront the glaring deficiencies in road discipline and driver behaviour across the country. The young boy’s life was cut short on a pedestrian crossing, an area specifically designed to safeguard those most vulnerable on the nation’s roadways. His passing is a painful reminder that the lack of respect for road rules and for human life continues to exact a devastating toll.
The lament of his grieving family, particularly his grandmother’s cry that drivers “would not stop” even when pedestrians are clearly on crossings, echoes the frustration and fear shared by countless citizens daily. Crossing a road in Guyana has, for many, become an act of courage rather than a routine movement. Despite the clear stipulations of the Guyana Road Traffic Code and the reminders issued by law enforcement authorities, road users continue to exhibit a troubling disregard for basic safety protocols and moral responsibility.
The guidance provided by Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh reinforces what every licensed driver is expected to know and practise: those approaching a pedestrian crossing must slow down, give way, and extend special consideration to children and the elderly. These are not optional courtesies, but rather they are obligations entrenched in law and grounded in decency. The principles are clear, the signs are visible, yet too many drivers behave as though such rules are mere suggestions.
This recklessness is symptomatic of a deeper cultural issue, a widespread erosion of road discipline. The national roadways have become arenas of impatience, aggression, and indifference. Drivers routinely speed through school zones, overtake dangerously, ignore pedestrian crossings, and flout traffic signals. The behaviour has become normalised, creating an environment where caution is viewed as inconvenience and courtesy as weakness. The consequences are fatal and far-reaching, affecting families, communities, and the broader national psyche. To restore order and respect on the roadways, enforcement must be firm, consistent, and uncompromising.
Education and awareness campaigns, while valuable, cannot stand alone. Laws must be backed by visible enforcement and meaningful penalties. Every motorist who endangers lives through carelessness or contempt for traffic regulations must face the consequences of their actions. Traffic patrols need to be intensified, particularly near schools, pedestrian crossings, and busy intersections. The presence of officers should serve not only as deterrence but also as reinforcement. At the same time, public education must be re-energised and targeted. The message of safe driving should be embedded early, beginning in schools and continuing through structured driver training programmes. Road safety is about respect for life, empathy for others, and an understanding that every decision behind the wheel carries weight and consequence.
In addition, technology can play a transformative role. The installation of cameras at pedestrian crossings, school zones, and high-risk areas would provide irrefutable evidence of infractions and enable efficient enforcement. These systems, already effective in several parts of the country, could significantly deter reckless driving. Moreover, visible signage reminding drivers of the legal right of way at pedestrian crossings must be maintained and well-lit, particularly in communities where children frequently traverse busy roads.
Civil society, schools, and the Private Sector also have a part to play. Road safety advocacy should extend beyond official campaigns and become a shared national mission. Employers, particularly those managing fleets, should insist on proper conduct from their drivers, while schools can incorporate pedestrian safety into their daily routines. A collective approach, rooted in personal responsibility and civic duty, is the only sustainable path forward. Every road fatality carries with it a story of loss, a future stolen, and a family left to mourn. The death of young Mahes is an avoidable tragedy – a painful consequence of collective negligence. It must not be in vain.
His passing should galvanise renewed urgency in curbing the recklessness that continues to destroy lives and devastate families. Respect for pedestrian crossings is a simple act with a profound impact. When drivers choose to slow down, observe, and yield, they affirm the sanctity of life and the principle of shared space. Road safety begins not only with policies or Police presence alone but with an attitude of care, patience, and responsibility. Guyana must now commit, with both heart and enforcement, to ending this culture of disregard.