Once again road accidents have become a common occurrence on our roads and motorways with their accompanying fatalities and casualties. The country awoke Monday morning to the tragic news that even more lives were lost owing to yet another accident, this time in Berbice. Two men lost their lives and another three were hospitalised.
This is a source of pain for families, who lose their loved ones or who have to bear the burden of medical expenses for those who suffer disability from the accidents. In many cases, it is the life of the family’s breadwinner that is snuffed out.
Every year, when the road fatality numbers rack up and the situation spirals out of control, we all cry “something must be done”; this year, however, let us deviate from the norm and 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.
Recently, the Guyana Police Force released statistics with respect to traffic management, which has revealed, yet again, an increase in road fatalities. Eighty-seven fatalities were recorded at the end of August this year, seven more than the same period last year. There was a reduction in serious and minor accidents, but again an increase in damage accidents. Speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and inattentiveness continue to be the main causes of fatal accidents.
The report also noted that enforcement will be amplified, with emphasis on reducing driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, loud music/breach of condition of road service licence, overloaded minibuses and use of cellular phones. The Police are also instituting a schools lecture programme.
Let us now examine where the responsibility lies. The various State bodies that have remits that affect road safety need to urgently implement a holistic plan of action that addresses the actual causes of road deaths. Various responsible parties need to ensure that our roads are in good condition, that painted lines are visible and that signage is intact and legible.
Then, there is the policing strategy – which is currently focused on speed-trapping and roadblocks – this needs to change. Another major cause of accidents is head-on collisions, so it is clear that the crossing of solid white lines needs to be policed, as do tailgating, failing to indicate, overtaking on the inside and the routine flouting of myriad other perfectly sensible laws. 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, 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.
Further, we need to rid the roads of stray animals. At some point in the past, we had a vibrant stray catching programme, which was a collaborative effort between the Police and the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. The most recent road fatality resulted when a motor car collided with a horse.
Motorists, pedestrians and road users also need to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
We must, however, give credit where credit is due, the Public Security Ministry and, by extension, the Guyana Police Force have recently instituted several commendable, and in some cases controversial, steps to tackle this issue. The Public Security Minister recently announced that the procedure for issuing drivers’ licences is to be examined and, in some cases, there will be retesting of licence holders. This is a good move. Let us admit, we are all aware that in some instances drivers’ licences are fake or obtained fraudulently. Then, there is the ban on used tyres. Although there is no definitive research to prove that this could actually prevent road accidents, it can be viewed as another preventative (though costly) measure. The Police have again clamped down on tinted vehicles.
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.
Maybe we can advocate for the introduction of new fines, for example, boarding public transport at non-designated areas, streamlining motorcycle operations, etc; the list is by no means exhaustive. What is evident is that we need to find a solution soon.
The situation on the ground is a clear indication that road safety is not being taken seriously.
