Police again warn motorcyclists to slow down as 53 riders die in 2025

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a renewed call to motorcyclists for caution, warning that reckless riding continues to claim lives, after 53 motorcyclists were killed on the nation’s roads in 2025. In a traffic advisory released by the Traffic Headquarters of the GPF, authorities stressed that motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users, urging riders to take safety warnings seriously as the country moves into 2026. The advisory pointed to excessive speed, reckless overtaking, failure to wear protective gear, and blatant disregard for traffic laws as persistent behaviours costing lives. “Riding responsibly is not optional — it is a duty to yourself, your family and every other road user,” the advisory stated, underscoring concerns about dangerous riding practices, neglect of safety gear, and motorcycle overloading. The warning comes amid sobering national statistics which show that road fatalities increased in 2025, even as overall road accidents declined – meaning fewer, but more deadly, road accidents. According to official police traffic data, 137 people were killed in 124 fatal road accidents in 2025, compared with 132 deaths in 117 fatal accidents the previous year. While total road collisions fell from more than 2,400 in 2024 to approximately 2,177 in 2025, the number of lives lost rose by about four per cent, signalling that crashes are becoming more severe and deadly.

Throughout the year, traffic officials repeatedly identified riders as a high-risk group, particularly young males, many of whom were not wearing helmets at the time of the accidents. Police investigations into fatal crashes frequently revealed speeding, dangerous overtaking and loss of control as contributing factors, often compounded by poor judgment and non-compliance with traffic laws. The advisory noted that despite sustained traffic enforcement operations and ongoing public education campaigns, unsafe riding behaviours continue to persist on Guyana’s roadways. Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh, has previously warned that speeding remains the leading cause of fatal road accidents, with motorcycles offering little protection in the event of a crash. Police data also show that pillion riders, passengers on motorcycles have increasingly been among those killed or seriously injured, particularly where overloading and lack of protective gear are involved.
In response to the growing concern, the GPF has intensified enforcement efforts, including roadblocks, helmet and licensing checks and speed monitoring using the Safe Road Intelligence System (SRIS) which allows for automated detection of speeding and other violations. Thousands of traffic offences were recorded in 2025, though police maintain that enforcement alone will not solve the problem.
The traffic advisory warned that dangerous riding practices not only endanger motorcyclists but also place pedestrians, passengers and other motorists at risk. Fatal crashes, police noted, often leave families grappling with sudden loss, severe injuries, financial hardship and long-term trauma. The Police Force says reducing road deaths remains a top priority, but achieving that goal will require cooperation from road users themselves.