Flouting traffic laws by minibuses must end – Edghill

…greater enforcement, clamping down to begin

The culture of minibuses flouting traffic laws while operating on Guyana’s roadways must come to an end, and authorities have signalled their intention to clamp down on such practices.
This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who on Tuesday expressed that while the laws governing traffic management exist to ensure safe operation of vehicles, they are not being properly enforced.
“We have to work with the minibuses. Along the road, we have designated bus stops; we have to start enforcing it. Guyana is not a country that lacks laws, our problem is in the enforcement of those laws… We have to stop the culture of people wanting to stop right in front of their houses. Minibuses must only stop at designated bus stops,” Edghill voiced.
According to the Minister, designated bus stops are functioning in specific locations to safely transport passengers, and those facilities must be used.
“When we mark the roads and we put stops for bus stops, it is because the engineers and the design team specially designated areas where it would be safe for buses to stop for people to embark and disembark, and get to their location safely,” the Minister explained.
Motorcyclists have also come under fire for reckless use of the roadways and, in some cases, putting the lives of pillion riders in danger.
Edghill said, “Motorcyclists are using anything as a road. They’re dodging between cars. They’re dodging with two and three pillion riders in the morning. We have to use the road safely.”
In a bid to ensure safer roadways, draft amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, as well as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill were approved by the Cabinet in March of this year, with a view to toughening up the penalties for drunk drivers – and the bars that serve them.
For the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, this sought to amend the Principal Act and put in place a new Section, 35A. This new Section makes causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.
The draft Bill also amends Section 39A of the Principal Act – the penalty for driving while over the alcohol limit – replacing the $7500 fine with $200,000, and the sentence of 12 months with 24 months.
It has also been proposed in March that the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle be increased from its current $30,000 to $60,000 fine/imprisonment for 12 months to $200,000 for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders. (G12)