Many have expressed shock and disbelief over the number of road fatalities over the past few weeks and it has now become clearer that the efforts being made by law enforcement and other authorities to reduce the alarming rate of road accidents are not achieving the desired results. In fact, 2017 will go down as yet another year when Guyana experienced some of the most horrific road accidents resulting in the loss of lives and injuries to countless others.
Just recently (last Sunday), a teenage couple and a young taxi driver lost their lives when the motor car in which they were travelling became uncontrollable and collided with a parked vehicle on the public road at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara. According to information gathered thus far, the driver of the motor car was speeding when the accident occurred.
And just a few days prior, a Berbice woman and her two sons, along with her secretary and friend lost their lives following an accident on the Number 59 Village public road on the Corentyne. Here again, according to the details, the driver of the vehicle was driving at a fast rate when the vehicle encountered a pothole and became uncontrollable and then crashed into a lorry.
The body of the woman’s five-year-old son was severed in two following the impact of the motorcar on the lorry. Eyewitnesses also related that there were two carts parked on the road’s shoulder adjacent to the pothole. For both accidents referred to above, a total of eight lives were snuffed out in just a matter of days.
We are very much concerned about the number of persons losing their lives on our roadways. Too many families have been broken as a result of losing a loved one due to road accident, most of which could have been avoided. There are several actions which could be taken immediately to reduce the number of road accidents. To begin with, the authorities should start fixing all the potholes on our streets and highways which no doubt poses a serious threat to people’s lives. A case in point is the Corentyne accident: it is highly believed that the huge pothole on the road was a contributory factor to the accident. Why haven’t the Neighbourhood Democratic Council officials in the area sought to have this problem fixed after many complaints from residents?
Additionally, the authorities should immediately start clearing the parapets and roadways of all encumbrances such as old, abandoned vehicles, tractor trailers, carts, etc, as these have been known to contribute to accidents. At the same time, tougher action should be taken against persons who are bent on encumbering the roadways.
Of note too is the fact that even though this country has enacted the relevant legislation to ensure persons use the roads in a responsible manner, there are still major lapses in the system which needs to be addressed. There is need for greater enforcement of the traffic laws. There is legislation in place in relation to driving under the influence, loud music, overloading, speeding, etc, but if the laws are not adequately implemented they become useless.
Further, there is need for all Guyanese to move away from the culture of disregard and irresponsibility in relation to using the roadways. The Education Ministry and other relevant stakeholders should examine the possibility of strengthening the school’s curriculum with the aim of increasing knowledge, skills and understanding among children and young people about the responsible use of our roadways. Similar efforts should also be made targeting the adult population as they too are sometimes found to be irresponsible when using our roadways.
The number of deaths and disabilities as a result of road accidents is indeed very worrying and something must be done urgently to bring a halt to the level of irresponsibility and recklessness on our roadways.
Guyana is too small to have this high percentage of road accidents. There seems to be no effective leadership, both from a political as well as an administrative/technical standpoint to confront the challenge. We believe the time has come for all stakeholders to return to the drawing board and reexamine their approach to road accidents since what currently obtains has failed the nation.
