More parental oversight needed as young motorcyclists flout road safety laws – Traffic Chief

Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Singh on Monday highlighted ongoing concerns about the dangerous behaviour of young motorcyclists, calling for stronger parental enforcement and involvement. Singh told Guyana Times that many young riders operate without valid licences and engage in reckless driving, often removing motorcycles from crash scenes to avoid police scrutiny. “They are riding recklessly and without licences,” Singh said. “When they crash, some of them threaten other drivers and remove the motorcycles from the scene. We had one such case last night, the rider broke traffic laws, crashed into a motor vehicle, and his friends removed the motorcycle from the crash scene before police arrived. They even threatened the other driver with violence.” The warning comes amid national statistics showing the continued risks posed by unsafe motorcycle riding. In 2025, 53 motorcyclists lost their lives in road accidents, according to the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Although the total number of road collisions fell to approximately 2,177 in 2025, the number of fatalities increased to 137, compared with 132 in 2024, indicating that crashes are becoming more severe and deadly. The GPF has repeatedly identified young riders, particularly males, as a high-risk group. Police investigations frequently reveal speeding, dangerous overtaking, lack of helmets and overloading as common factors in fatal crashes. Pillion riders, or passengers on motorcycles, are also increasingly affected, often suffering serious injuries or death. In response, traffic ranks have intensified enforcement efforts, including roadblocks, helmet and licensing checks and the use of the Safe Road Intelligence System (SRIS) to monitor speeding and other violations. However, Singh emphasised that enforcement alone cannot curb reckless behaviour. “Riding responsibly is not optional, it is a duty to yourself, your family and every other road user,” Singh said. He urged parents to take a more active role in supervising young riders to reduce accidents and fatalities on Guyana’s roads.