Pedestrians can be charged for causing road accidents – Traffic Chief

The number of accidents allegedly caused by pedestrians has seemingly increased, and Traffic Chief Linden Isles has reminded that they could be charged under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02.
In a brief telephone interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Isles explained that if a vehicle swerves from a pedestrian who may have run across the road, and in the process ends up hitting another vehicle, that pedestrian could be charged for causing the accident.
According to Section 62 of Chapter 51:02 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, “If any person wilfully loiters or remains on any roadway in such a manner or in such circumstances as to be likely to cause danger or obstruction to persons driving or propelling vehicles on the road, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than seven thousand five hundred dollars nor more than fifteen thousand dollars”.
The Traffic Chief told this publication that many of such cases have not been reported in recent days. In fact, he said, “For the past year or two or three, we hardly had persons being charged to that effect.”
He was keen to note however, that drivers were obligated to slow down at pedestrian crossings countrywide in keeping with the laws of Guyana. On the other hand, Isles reminded that pedestrians must not “dash across” the road at any given time, even though they may be on pedestrian crossings, as he reminded that vehicles take time to apply their brakes.
On June 1, a seven-year-old child was killed on the Agricola Public Road, Greater Georgetown, by a sand truck after the driver reportedly swerved when she reportedly ran across the road.
Although reports on this matter are still sketchy, the truck driver was released on bail after being severely beaten by residents in that area.
His life was barely spared by officers who came to his rescue; however, his truck was torched and mostly destroyed.
Other reports had indicated that the truck bearing registration number GWW 962 was heading to Georgetown when he allegedly swerved to avoid hitting a vehicle and ended up in the path of the pedestrians.
The driver of the truck was subsequently released on $100,000 bail as the investigation continues.