“Prevent damage and hurt to yourselves, families” – Benn tells motorcyclists

…distributes free helmets in safety campaign

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has urged motorcyclists to protect themselves and take necessary actions to protect their wellbeing and their families from being hurt.

The Minister made the call while distributing free helmets to motorists and cyclists near the junction of the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the East Bank Demerara public road on Friday.
Benn according to a Department of Public Information report, the Minister told the recipients he hoped wearing the safety gear would help them become more conscious about road safety and road usage.
“The helmets will not work by itself, but it’s how you use the road and how you respect yourself and road safety…I want to do this. I am giving out free helmets to encourage you to take the necessary actions to prevent damage and hurt to yourselves and families, and to the country at large,” the Minister is quoted as saying. He also encouraged the motorists and cyclists to ensure that their pillion riders also wear helmets.

A total of 30 helmets were distributed.
Benn embarked on the initiative to take a hands-on approach to reduce road deaths in this category of road users as they make up a large percentage of victims, with speeding and the lack of safety helmets recorded as contributing factors.
The helmet campaign is one of the measures the Ministry announced during the National Road Safety Week of activities on November 23. The campaign is a collaboration between the Ministry, the Guyana National Road Safety Council and the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department.
The Ministry also plans to distribute high-visibility vests and lights to cyclists. The Police have recorded an 81 per cent increase in motorists’ deaths compared to the same period last year. Thirty-eight deaths were recorded in 2020, compared to 21 in 2019. Deaths of cyclists skyrocketed to a 106 per cent increase, with 37 deaths being recorded this year compared to 18 in 2019.