Reg 6 records 17% decline in road fatalities for 2026 to date

– 9 deaths, 48 accidents recorded

The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Regional Division Six has recorded a decline in road fatalities and fatal accidents so far this year, with preliminary police statistics showing fewer deadly crashes and traffic-related deaths compared to the same period last year. This was revealed during the Road Safety Programme featuring Inspector Haslin George, Sergeant Tellston Roberts and Sergeant Kemurvi Pillu, aired on Thursday evening.
“Now for the period from the 1st of January to date, last year compared to this year, we have seen a decrease in fatal accidents. We had nine last year compared to seven this year. We had 14 deaths last year compared to nine this year, and we’re seeing an overall decrease in accidents, which was 58 last year to 48 this year, giving us a 17 per cent decrease thus far,” Inspector George said. In addition, Officer-in-Charge of the Traffic Department at the Springlands Police Station, Sergeant Kemurvi Pillu, reported that while some progress has been made, a few issues still persist, particularly involving motorcyclists.

“There’s a decrease in fatalities, however there is still the motorcyclist situation. I can safely say that not only in the Springlands Station District, but also, I rather suspect, throughout the region and, I may say, countrywide, as it relates to motorcyclists not adhering to the rules. That is to say, not driving with safety helmets, not carrying pillion riders with safety helmets, and the list goes on. One of the bigger issues is motorcyclists now driving without silencers on their motorcycles. We at the Springlands Station District are trying our utmost to curb that, but it also starts with the individual.”
On a lighter note, Sergeant Roberts noted an increase in young people taking the initiative to sit their written examinations. “Well, my area of responsibility is basically to issue fitness certificates and test persons who come in to do the practical examination to obtain a driver’s licence. We have noticed that more young people are getting themselves together in the sense that they are coming in, doing their theoretical examination and then coming to do their practical examination, which we advise them to do because we at the Certifying Office have to test you to see if you’re competent to be on the roadway. So, we’re seeing more young people, and that is commendable, and I applaud that.”
Sergeant Roberts urged parents to encourage young motorcyclists to become properly licensed and comply with road safety regulations. He stressed that many young riders continue to operate motorcycles without a driver’s licence or a safety helmet, noting that parents have an important role to play in instilling responsible behaviour. Roberts encouraged parents to ensure their children complete both the theoretical and practical driving examinations before using the nation’s roadways. The GPF stresses that wearing helmets is not just about avoiding fines; it is a matter of life and death. The increased enforcement is meant to encourage compliance and prevent serious injuries or fatalities resulting from road accidents.
Only days ago, it was revealed that a higher number of road deaths have been recorded across the entirety of Guyana during the first 170 days of 2026 when compared to the same period last year. Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Andre Ally disclosed this during the Guyana National Road Safety Stakeholders’ Consultation on Friday.
“Between 2020 and 2025, Guyana experienced significant fluctuations in road fatalities. Deaths reached a peak of 175 in 2023. While fatalities declined to 132 in both 2024 and 2025, we must not mistake that decline for victory. One preventable death is one too many. For the first 170 days of this year, 2026, when compared to the same period in 2025, fatal accidents increased from 54 to 56, and the number of deaths increased from 58 to 62,” he said.
He cautioned that Guyana’s road safety challenge must also be understood within a global context. Citing statistics to support his statements, he noted that the United Nations (UN) has recognised road safety as a major development priority. Through the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), the UN has set a target of reducing road deaths and injuries by at least 50 per cent by 2030.