Guyana’s roadways have once again become a stage for preventable tragedy. The latest figures are both sobering and deeply frustrating as 38 motorcyclists and seven pillion riders have lost their lives so far in 2025, with investigations revealing that the majority were not wearing helmets. These are irreplaceable lives, lost in crashes that, in many cases, could have been survived had basic safety measures been observed. Despite decades of public education campaigns, enforcement operations, and targeted initiatives, the message is not sinking in. The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) and the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department have repeatedly stressed that helmets are not accessories, they are life-saving equipment. Yet, in far too many instances, they are treated as optional, carried on handlebars or tucked under arms rather than worn on heads where they can do the most good.
This persistent disregard for safety is alarming, particularly given the visible and sustained efforts by law enforcement and road safety advocates. The police have issued scores of tickets, conducted enforcement exercises, and partnered with stakeholders to promote safe riding practices. Campaigns such as No Limit on Life and Drive Smart, Live Full are tailored specifically to the most at-risk demographic—motorcyclists aged 18 to 35.
Still, the statistics suggest that awareness alone is not enough. The tragic outcomes point to a culture in which road safety laws are viewed as inconveniences rather than safeguards. This is not about apportioning blame to victims but about confronting the societal attitudes that enable repeated, preventable loss of life. Helmets, seatbelts, speed limits, and sober driving are not negotiable luxuries, they are non-negotiable commitments to survival.
As NRSC Chairman Earl Lambert has underscored, the responsibility does not rest solely on the shoulders of the police. While enforcement is essential, it cannot be everywhere at once. Families, friends, and communities play a critical role in shaping attitudes toward safety. Riders are not faceless strangers; they are relatives, neighbours, colleagues, and breadwinners. When they mount a motorcycle without a helmet, the risk extends beyond the individual, it affects dependents, workplaces, and the nation’s productivity. The cost is not only emotional but also economic, stripping society of years of potential contribution.
Inspector Harold Devieria’s remarks during a recent episode of Police and You programme laid bare another uncomfortable truth, impatience and recklessness are deeply ingrained in the driving culture. The ability to manoeuvre in difficult traffic conditions is less a matter of skill and more a function of discipline, restraint, and foresight—qualities that are often lacking. This absence of patience, combined with a cavalier attitude toward safety, is fuelling collisions that could be avoided with the simplest of behavioural shifts.
The question, then, is not whether enough has been said or done. The campaigns, enforcement drives, and public service messages are abundant. The real challenge lies in translating knowledge into action. This requires a sustained, multi-layered approach: stronger penalties for violations, continuous community-based interventions, and a shift in societal norms so that unsafe riding becomes socially unacceptable. In many jurisdictions, helmet use is enforced through law and also through peer and community pressure; in Guyana, that cultural reinforcement remains weak.
Road safety cannot be seen as an abstract policy issue but rather as a matter of national wellbeing. Each crash involving a motorcyclist reverberates far beyond the immediate scene. Families are left grieving, medical resources are strained, and economic productivity suffers. The human and financial costs are staggering, and yet, year after year, the same patterns repeat. This cycle can only be broken when safety is embraced as a personal duty and a collective value.
Public agencies, non-governmental organisations, and advocacy groups must therefore continue, and intensify their efforts. Campaigns should not be confined to holiday periods or high-profile enforcement sweeps; they must be woven into the everyday fabric of community life. Schools, workplaces, and local councils should be enlisted in reinforcing the message that safe riding is not optional. Media platforms, too, have a responsibility to keep the issue in the public consciousness, highlighting both the risks of non-compliance and the benefits of protective measures.
The statistics for 2025 are already grim, and the year is far from over. Unless there is an immediate and collective recommitment to responsible road use, those numbers will rise, and with them, the toll of shattered families and diminished futures. The lives lost cannot be reclaimed, but those still at risk can be spared if all motorists and road users treat this crisis with the urgency it demands.
Earl Lambert’s parting words on the broadcast were a necessary reminder, “Today, it might be me. Tomorrow, it might be you.”
