Lawlessness on 2 wheels

The growing disregard for traffic laws among motorcyclists across Guyana has evolved almost into a public safety crisis that can no longer be ignored. The consistent rise in motorcycle-related fatalities and severe head injuries underscores a troubling reality that too many riders continue to treat the helmet law and other basic road safety measures as optional, despite clear legal requirements and ongoing public education campaigns.
Traffic officers, the men and women tasked with enforcing these laws, have voiced mounting frustration. Their efforts are hampered not by ignorance of the rules but by a culture of defiance and indifference among many riders. During a recent broadcast of “Road Safety and You”, several traffic inspectors, including Inspector Harroald De Vira of the Georgetown Traffic Department, spoke candidly about the situation. Their accounts painted a grim picture of what has become a daily battle to safeguard lives on the road.
According to Inspector De Vira, the majority of motorcycle accidents result in head injuries requiring hospitalisation, with many victims remaining admitted for extended periods. Despite frequent enforcement exercises, such as a recent joint operation that stopped over 100 motorcyclists, 75 per cent of whom were not wearing helmets or displayed missing number plates, the disregard for safety persists. Enforcement, however robust, appears to be only treating the symptoms of a deeper societal ailment, an attitude problem that places convenience and bravado above self-preservation.
This reality points to a larger question of accountability. As National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Chairman Earl Lambert noted, public discourse around traffic safety often focuses on criticising the police while ignoring the personal responsibility of road users. Lambert’s reflection on a roadside vigil, one held for a young man whose life was cut short on the nation’s roads, underscored the painful irony that Guyanese communities invest significant time and emotion in mourning the dead, yet far less effort in preventing such tragedies in the first place.
The emotional and economic toll of these preventable incidents cannot be overstated. Every serious accident translates into hospital stays, lost productivity, grieving families, and overburdened emergency services. For a developing nation, the cumulative cost of such recklessness extends beyond the immediate victims; it erodes national resilience, diverts scarce resources, and undermines the collective sense of civic responsibility.
It is not enough to view traffic safety as a policing issue. The police, as several officers rightly pointed out, cannot be blamed for the reckless choices of riders who speed through traffic, carry passengers without helmets, or flout licensing requirements. The laws exist not as punitive measures but as instruments of protection. Each rider who chooses to ignore them endangers themselves and also pillion riders, pedestrians, and other motorists who share the road.
What is urgently needed is a renewed national commitment to responsible road use, a cultural shift that begins with individuals understanding that road safety is a shared duty. This requires consistent enforcement, yes, but also education that resonates beyond fines and statistics. Schools, workplaces, community organisations, and local media all have a role to play in reinforcing the message that helmets save lives, that reckless driving kills, and that laws are written in blood – the blood of those who once thought they were invincible.
The continued use of technology, including roadside cameras and digital reporting systems, can further strengthen enforcement while ensuring transparency.
However, no amount of policy reform or policing can compensate for the absence of personal accountability. Inspector De Vira’s reminder that “safety starts with you” encapsulates the heart of the issue. The vehicle does not operate itself; it responds to the intent and discipline of the rider. Every decision to ignore a helmet, to overtake recklessly, or to ride unlicensed is a gamble with one’s own life and often, with someone else’s.
The ongoing carnage on Guyana’s roads is the predictable outcome of human negligence. Until riders and drivers alike internalise the value of discipline, no number of traffic campaigns or enforcement operations will stem the tide of loss. The message, therefore, is that road safety begins and ends with the individual. Only when that principle is embraced at every level of society can Guyana hope to reverse the tragic trend of preventable road deaths and build a culture of true safety on its roads.