Despite the implementation of what many describe as a successful campaign by the Guyana Police Force, road accidents with the resulting fatalities are still a common occurrence on our road and motorways. Yet again the morning newspapers bore the tragic news that over the weekend, three more persons, including a five-year-old lost their lives, in separate accidents.
Two men died tragically on Sunday evening when a motorcyclist collided with a pedestrian on the Rupert Craig highway. The motorcyclist was reportedly speeding when he collided with the pedestrian, who was allegedly under the influence. And in a separate incident at Lima Sands on the Essequibo, a 49-year-old driver was arrested and was currently assisting with investigations after the tractor he was driving ran over a five-year-old girl, who died instantly.
Every year, when the road fatality numbers rack up and the situation spirals out of control, everyone cries “something must be done”; however, it is time to assert “something will be done”. It is clear that something very different must be done. This has become a chronic rather than a seasonal problem in Guyana.
The causes of accidents range from narrow roads to careless driving and speeding. And then there is the most common reason: some drivers just refuse to follow the rules. They will overtake other vehicles in narrow and sharp corners, drive while intoxicated, exceed the speed limit and literally drive themselves and innocent road-users into the grave. This is not to say that pedestrians and other road users are blameless.
There have been concerted efforts to enforce existing rules to help curb the carnage, including the implementation of “Operation Safeway”, which also aided in supporting the poorly equipped Police Force to tackle traffic issues.
In September, after an alarming spate of road accidents, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), in an attempt to clamp down on drunk, speeding and reckless drivers, re-launched “Operation Safeway” (the initiative was first launched early in 2009 in an attempt to reduce the rate of fatal accidents). This was intended to counter the mounting road accidents, which result in fatalities.
During the launch, the then Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine acknowledged that based on figures, there was a decline in the application of the five Cs – Caution, Care, Common Sense, Courtesy and Consideration.
According to statistics released by Police, there has been a decline in road accidents and they have directly attributed this to “Operation Safeway”. For the period September 15 to October 16, 2016, Traffic Chief, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan had reported a 36.3 per cent reduction in fatal accidents in comparison with that same period last year. He said that a total of 6421 charges have been made against drivers for various traffic offences, since the inception of “Operation Safeway”.
In addition, the White Knight campaign was initiated, which is a collaborative effort between the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) and the GPF. The aim of the campaign is to team education awareness with enforcement during strategic roadblocks across the country.
Despite these valiant efforts, the carnage on our roadways continues. Although many persons are singing praises about the success of these initiatives, the alarming frequency of accidents should be a cause for pause. The various State bodies that have remits that affect road safety need to urgently re-examine the plan of action that addresses the actual causes of road deaths.
One major cause of accidents is head-on collisions, so it is clear that the crossing of solid white lines needs to be policed, as well as tailgating, failing to indicate, overtaking on the inside and myriad other offences which perfectly sensible laws police but are routinely and fatally flouted. This can be achieved only by getting many officers out from behind their speed guns and into their patrol cars.
Additionally, if a drunk driver is able to carry on his or her journey after offering a corrupt officer a bribe, people will die. Given the reality that a percentage of those killed on the roads are pedestrians, as in the case of Sunday’s accident, laws preventing jaywalking and walking on highways need to be enforced. Speed traps cannot do this. More infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, such as footbridges and cycle lanes, is urgently needed.
Motorists, pedestrians and all road users also need to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
Reducing road deaths is not a short-term project, but it is essential that we get to work immediately. It is time to embrace the complicated and difficult root-and-branch work that needs to be done. Perhaps we could consider the introduction of new traffic regulations to complement the existing rules. What is clear is that we need to find a solution soon. Too many lives are being snuffed out senselessly.
The situation on the ground is a clear indication that road safety is not being taken seriously and something more needs to be done.
