Guyana targets 60% cut in road deaths by 2030

Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations (UN) Marissa Edwards, has informed a High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety, that the country aims to curb its annual road fatalities by over 60 per cent by 2030. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had reported that 137 persons were killed in 124 fatal accidents from January 1 to December 31, 2025. In 2024, 132 deaths were recorded from 124 fatal accidents. By midyear this year, the GPF noted that road accidents decreased by 24 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Addressing the UN forum, Edwards noted that Guyana has employed a number of initiatives aimed at making the country’s roadways safer.
“As a result of these interventions, we have seen a consistent reduction in road accidents, even though the number of fatalities remain concerningly high. Guyana’s efforts are anchored towards a clear national target of curbing annual road fatalities by over 60 per cent from current levels by 2030,” she noted. Edwards emphasised that Guyana welcomes the adoption of the Progress Declaration on Road Safety and reaffirms its commitment to the global target of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. “The Declaration reflects our shared recognition that road safety is integral to sustainable development and contributes to progress across economic, social, environmental and public health dimensions. No death or serious injury on our roads is an acceptable cost of mobility,” she said. According to Edwards, addressing road safety in a holistic manner across the health, infrastructure, law enforcement and education sectors is critical to reducing the number of road accidents. She outlined that as part of efforts to improve road safety, the Government of Guyana has expanded its budgetary allocations in key areas, including through strengthened enforcement measures and technological interventions. “Other measures include the introduction of the Safe Road Intelligence System (SRIS) with automated speed cameras paired with e-ticketing and a demerit point system, alongside expanded road infrastructure with enhanced safety features, school-based road safety education, a strengthened National Road Safety Council, and the annual observance of a National Road Safety Month during which communities and stakeholders are engaged nationwide,” Edwards highlighted. “We underscore the importance of continued multilateral cooperation towards strengthening national data systems, building the capacity of road safety agencies and supporting the development of sustainable, cost-effective transport systems, including safe public transport along with walking and cycling infrastructure that advance both road safety, public health and climate goals,” she added. In June, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that “while we are encouraged by the reduction in accidents, we are not satisfied. Our goal is to save lives, and every road user has a responsibility to obey the traffic laws and exercise greater caution”. In fact, he had noted that for the year so far, 27,337 electronic tickets were issued, resulting in the suspension of 22 driver’s licences. Hicken also emphasised that the GPF has intensified road safety awareness campaigns targeting schoolchildren, bus operators, commercial drivers and patrons of entertainment establishments. Traffic ranks continue to be deployed at accident-prone locations to conduct speed enforcement exercises, drunk-driving operations and high-visibility patrols. The Top Cop added that the Force will continue to utilise technology and intelligence-led policing to improve compliance and reduce fatalities on the nation’s roadways. Among the priority areas are the regulation of e-bikes, stricter enforcement against dangerous driving practices and measures to reduce accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles. In fact, the Government has also announced the introduction speed governors to limit trucks and other heavy vehicles to a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour (km/h).
Some 400 heavy-duty vehicle clamps were procured for the GPF to target errant drivers who continue to disregard the Government’s continuous appeals to desist from transporting overweight material and cargo.