Police using surveillance cameras to track hit-and-run drivers – Road Safety Council

Motorists who damage vehicles or become involved in accidents and flee the scene are being warned that surveillance cameras are increasingly being used to identify and prosecute offenders. Chairman of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), Earl Lamber, during a recent episode of “Road Safety and You”, issued the warning, revealing that the Police Force is currently reviewing cameras following recent hit-and-run accidents. “Last week, there was an incident outside the immigration office in Camp Street. A young immigration officer who bought her car last November came to work. She parked her car in the corner, and some other vehicle drove in a manner as to damage that vehicle and drove away,” Lambert said.

According to Lambert, investigations are ongoing and the driver responsible could soon be identified through surveillance footage. “I want to tell that vehicle that they’re checking the cameras to see who it was so that you could be held accountable because there is an offence when you commit that accident, and you drive away, you can be charged,” he stated. Lambert stressed that many motorists believe they can escape responsibility by leaving the scene of an accident. “So, if you tell yourself that because your vehicle was damaged, you don’t have to repair the other vehicle. I’m just cautioning drivers that it is an offence if you get into an accident or you jam somebody’s vehicle or even a pedestrian and you drive away, it is an offence and you will be charged when caught,” he said. The Road Safety Council chairman also warned that technological monitoring systems are making it increasingly difficult for traffic offenders to evade detection. “Don’t feel that you did it and you’re going to get away. Their cameras aren’t wrong and because of those cameras, the system is able to pick up a lot of defaulters and traffic offenders,” Lambert added. He made the comments while he was joined by several members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department, including Inspector Khanoo, Sergeant Lucky, Sergeant Leitch and Sergeant Ali. He noted that the council continues to raise awareness about responsible road use as more people, particularly young people entering the workforce, are purchasing vehicles.
“We have disposable income at our disposal and so everybody is trying to get a vehicle to move around so that you don’t have to depend on public transportation, especially our young people,” Lambert said. He urged motorists to act responsibly and comply with traffic laws to avoid penalties and ensure the safety of other road users.