Minibus drivers warned over dangerous stops, overcrowding

Unsafe practices by some minibus operators, including stopping in dangerous locations and overcrowding vehicles, continue to raise concerns among traffic ranks. The issue was highlighted during a recent “Road Safety and You” programme hosted by Chairman of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) Earl Lambert, with participation from traffic officers Sergeant Lucky; Police Sergeant Lietch; Sergeant Ali; and Inspector Khanoo.
During the programme, officers discussed several offences under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, including leaving a motor vehicle in a dangerous position, which they said is often committed by some drivers when picking up or dropping off passengers. Explaining the offence, Sergeant Lucky, who is stationed at the Timehri Police Outpost in Regional Division 4B, East Bank Demerara (EBD), said some drivers stop along the roadway rather than pulling off the carriageway.

“This mainly speaks to drivers…for instance, the minibuses. A passenger is on the road, and instead of that minibus driver going properly off the road so you would not obstruct the free flow of traffic… [they] stop right there with the passengers standing, obstructing the free flow of traffic with the whole minibus onto the carriageway,” Sergeant Lucky explained. He also noted that some drivers park vehicles too close to corners, creating additional hazards for other road users.
“Some persons go as far as parking their vehicle just in front of the corner of the road, and the rear is out on the carriageway. You could be issued a ticket for leaving your vehicle in a dangerous position,” he said. Host Earl Lambert also observed that some minibus drivers fail to check their mirrors or signal when re-entering traffic after stopping.
“What I see some persons doing now… as soon as they finish either putting off or picking up a passenger, they just want to move back into that traffic without using the mirror to see what is taking place. Some don’t even give a hand signal,” Lambert said. Overcrowding vehicles were also highlighted as another common offence. Addressing the issue, Sergeant Leitch, who is stationed at the Tuschen Police Station, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and attached to the Traffic Department, explained that drivers must adhere to the permitted seating capacity of their vehicles.
“Carrying more persons than the permitted number…that has to do with the seating capacity of the vehicle,” Leitch said.
He noted that exceeding the permitted number of passengers not only breaches traffic regulations but may also invalidate the vehicle’s insurance coverage. Recent road accident statistics have also heightened concerns about unsafe driving practices. Official figures show that 124 fatal road accidents were recorded in Guyana in 2025, resulting in 137 road traffic deaths, marking a slight increase compared with 2024. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has repeatedly warned that speeding, inattentiveness and reckless driving remain the leading causes of fatal crashes on the country’s roadways.