Inspector Roberts, who is in charge of traffic at the Tuschen Police Station under Regional Division #3
With lawless driving on the rise, law enforcement officials are calling on members of the public to take an active role in road safety by using their smartphones to record and report dangerous behaviours. This was advised by Inspector Roberts, who is in charge of traffic at the Tuschen Police Station under Regional Division #3 (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara)
“Use your smartphone for the right thing,” urged Inspector Roberts. “The public can assist the police in dealing with this issue. They have their cell phones. They can record. They can take out a picture. They can send it to us.”
He noted that even WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook can help police track down and prosecute offenders. “The minute you record it and it’s uploaded on Facebook, I can assure you the police will go after those drivers,” he emphasised. He said too often, passengers in minibuses and private vehicles observe lawless behaviour silently, especially when rushing to work.
“Passengers sit in these buses and allow it to happen. They don’t speak out,” Roberts said. “When an accident occurs, that is when you hear that the driver wasn’t doing the right thing.”
Only a few days ago, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) announced it is intensifying efforts to reduce road fatalities by combining stricter enforcement, advanced technology, and public awareness campaigns. In 2025 so far, 68 lives have been lost in 63 fatal crashes, mainly due to speeding, poor decision-making and traffic violations by younger drivers.
To address this, the GPF has introduced automated e-ticketing, speed cameras, over 5,000 body cameras, and the Safe Road Intelligence System (SRIS), which has issued over 4,000 speeding tickets since April. These tools aim to reduce bias, increase transparency, and improve enforcement effectiveness.
More than 89,000 traffic violations have been recorded this year. High-risk vehicles like heavy trucks and minibuses are under stricter scrutiny, including 24-hour monitoring, speed-limiting devices, weighing stations, and tightened fitness and licence requirements. Public education campaigns and collaboration with freight and transport operators are also underway. A decline in fatal crashes involving minibuses has been noted, attributed to enhanced regulations. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Works and the GPF are addressing accident-prone areas through audits and data sharing to improve infrastructure.
Despite progress, challenges remain and authorities continue to urge public cooperation to build safer roads across Guyana.
