Police call on citizens to take active role in road safety

– ask parents to be involved

As Guyana continues to see incidents of reckless driving, overcharging in public transport, and violations of pedestrian safety, law enforcement officers are calling on citizens, particularly parents, to take an active role in road safety.
Speaking on a recent episode of the programme ‘Road Safety and You’, police officials have emphasized that while enforcement of laws remains a priority, real change requires cooperation from the public. One key message of this programme was the need for parents to instil road safety awareness in their children.
Superintendent Maniram Jagnanan, the officer in charge of traffic in Region Three, in stressing the importance of early traffic education, has said: “We need to do better as parents. Sit down with your family at home and teach them about road safety. Have a family dialogue. Have a family discussion. Teach them to do the right thing, so that when they get out on the road, they are obedient to the law.”
Expressing his concern at young people engaging in reckless behaviours, particularly at night, Jagnanan said, “How can you feel pleased and satisfied that you are being a parent and your young 13-and-14-year -old [are] on the road at 2 and 3 in the morning? How could you feel comfortable with that?”

The police have disclosed that several efforts have been employed to educate the public on road safety. Among those are lectures at schools, direct engagement with drivers, and formation of youth programmes to keep young people occupied and away from risky behaviours.
“We go out forming scout groups, youth groups, because we want to keep the youths engaged, by not doing the lawless things. We want to keep them engaged,” Jagnanan explained. Pointing out the importance of community involvement, he declared, “It takes a community to raise someone up. In the olden days we were villagers, we were neighbours, we were ears and eyes of each other, we looked out for each other.”

Public dissatisfaction
Despite the efforts of the GPF, some citizens remain skeptical about the effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing reckless driving. One caller, in arguing that harsher penalties are needed, has said: “The laws must be passed so that these people must pay for damages. If they hit private or Government property, they must pay for the cost of the repair. If they hit somebody young and [he or she is] dead, (or) if they put their breadwinner for the home [in danger], they must be made by the court to pay the family. Compensate the family until they’re (fit), or something else works out.”
Police acknowledge there is need for stricter enforcement of laws, but stress that laws alone would not solve the problem. Superintendent Jagnanan has said, “If they (members of the public) break the law of the land, there are consequences attached to it.”
The issue of pedestrian safety has also been raised, with a caller noting, “Drivers not stopping at the pedestrian crossing. You can be standing there with a baby in your hand and a small child, and every one of them will pass you straight. They are not stopping.”
The police are reminding drivers that courtesy and adherence to the law are essential. Superintendent Jagnanan, in declaring that road safety is a collective effort, has said: “Anger on the road (road rage) is not the answer. Doing the right thing is the answer; respecting the laws of the land is the answer.”
That programme of ‘Road Safety and You’ ended with a strong call for action, and the police urging the public to take responsibility for their role in road safety —whether as drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.