Pedestrians, motorcyclists top list of road fatalities

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday stated that as of July 10, 2021, there was a 30 per cent decline in road fatalities when compared to the same period last year. A total of 52 persons were killed as of July 10 with 74 recorded for the corresponding period in 2020.

In addition, there has been a 32 per cent decrease in fatal accidents with 48 recorded as of July 10 and 71 for the same period last year. The Police also stated that 17 pedestrians and 12 motorcyclists are the major categories of road users who have lost their lives on the roadway so far for 2021.
Inattentiveness and speeding were the main cause of fatal accidents with 21 and 18 deaths, respectively. In light of this, a team from the Traffic Department spearheaded an exercise for irregularities of motorcycles.
Police stated that the Traffic Department carried out a motor and pedal cycles campaign around Georgetown during which several motor and pedal cycles were stopped and found to be in breach of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations Chapter 51:02. The errant persons are expected to be charged shortly.
Additionally, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists are the main causes of road accidents and road fatalities for the year thus far.
It was found that motorcyclists have a habit of using the outside of roadways in attempts to get ahead of the traffic, which is a major contributor to the disruption of flow in traffic and oftentimes leads to the occurrence of an accident.
Earlier in the month, 21-year-old Joshua Butts of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was killed after he reportedly lost control of the car he was driving at Warren Public Road, East Coast Berbice
Butts was driving motor car bearing registration number PTT 7891 along the public road when he reportedly lost control and ended up in a nearby trench.
He was pulled from the wreckage by public-spirited citizens and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was admitted but later succumbed to his injuries.
Also, Ramesh Dass, who was attached to the Court Superintendent’s Office in Police Regional Division Two, and 23-year-old Zameer Ali were killed along the Airy Hall Public Road, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
At the time of the accident, Dass was riding a motorcycle with Ali as his pillion rider. However, as they were heading along the Airy Hall Public Road, the motorcycle collided with a motor car, PYY 7890.
As a result of the collision, both men sustained injuries about their bodies. They were subsequently picked up and taken to the Suddie Hospital where Dass was pronounced dead on arrival while Ali was admitted a patient. He succumbed a few hours later. (G10)