Reduction in road fatalities, serious accidents recorded

Guyana has made major strides in road safety, with a reported 20 per cent decrease in fatal accidents and a 24 per cent reduction in road fatalities compared to 2023. Serious and minor accidents have also decreased by two per cent and three per cent respectively.
The use of advanced technology, such as electronic speedometers and intelligent traffic cameras, has played a crucial role in these improvements.
Authorities issued over 42,000 speeding tickets in 2024, supported by an enhanced enforcement system, which saw a 37 per cent increase in court cases compared to the previous year. Public education campaigns have been instrumental, including 574 school lectures, 761 driver training programmes, and 211 bar safety talks. Defensive driving sessions and community outreach initiatives with religious and community leaders have also bolstered awareness.
Key interventions included the introduction of body cams for traffic officers, customised theoretical exams for new drivers, improvements to road infrastructure with traffic-calming measures, and the deployment of traffic light systems at key intersections. The Government emphasised the importance of these measures in promoting safer driving practices and reducing fatalities.
These statistics were provided to media by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday during his End of Year Press conference.
Looking ahead, 2025 will bring the implementation of a demerit point system, full e-ticketing, and additional measures like establishing concerned citizen WhatsApp groups for real-time traffic updates.
“Very soon, you’re going to see the electronic speedometers out on the road that is going to tell you slow down your speeding. So, we have these proactive measures to help drivers also. We have the electronic system that would improve transparency, improve accountability, and create a speedier way through which persons will be held accountable for their actions.
“We are looking to the implementation of the amendment of the Traffic Act, Chapter 551-02, with reference to use of intelligent traffic cameras. The target violations are attributed to speeding, failure to wear seatbelts, distracted driving and dangerous driving. And this is the full implementation of the e-ticketing system. And our e-ticketing system will be comparable to the best systems worldwide” President Ali said.
Guyana has also recorded remarkable achievements in crime reduction. In 2024, serious crime reports were at their lowest in a decade, with a 13.6 per cent decline compared to 2023. The nation achieved the lowest levels of murders, robberies, and break-and-enter incidents in ten years. Furthermore, the highest-ever seizure of illegal firearms and a record number of drug trafficking prosecutions were reported this year.
The Government attributes these results to its Safe City initiative, which employs interventions like state-of-the-art surveillance systems, body cams, drones, and marine vessels to enhance policing. Public surveillance screens, advanced command centres, and expanded community engagement have further improved crime-solving efforts, with a 71 per cent clear-up rate for murders recorded this year.
Interventions in 2024 focused on the use of modern technology, enhanced training for law enforcement, and greater collaboration with communities. Guyana’s road safety and crime reduction efforts are supported by initiatives such as traffic education programmes, improved road infrastructure, and intelligence-driven enforcement. Investments in surveillance systems and cross-agency collaboration have significantly bolstered public safety. (G1)