Stopping at the source

The Guyana Police Force’s decision to revoke the fitness certificates of 16 motor vehicles found operating with illegal-coloured lights in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is a justified step in enforcing the country’s traffic laws and protecting road users.
The White Light Campaign, conducted by ranks of Regional Police Division Two on Friday, resulted in 14 traffic violations being recorded, with 11 tickets and three summonses issued. No arrests were made. More importantly, the exercise confirmed that despite repeated warnings from the authorities, some motorists continue to disregard the legal requirements governing vehicle lighting.
The action by the Police Force should be viewed within the wider context of road safety and compliance with the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. Vehicle lighting are intended to ensure that motorists can see clearly and that vehicles can be properly identified by other road users, particularly at night.
The continued use of unauthorised coloured lights can create confusion and reduce the ability of road users to distinguish between different types of vehicles and their movements. Such practices become particularly concerning on roadways where visibility is already affected by darkness, weather conditions, traffic congestion or other hazards.
Repeated warnings without meaningful enforcement can also undermine respect for traffic regulations. Where motorists knowingly continue to violate the law after being cautioned, stronger enforcement measures become necessary. The revocation of fitness certificates sends a message that compliance with vehicle standards is a requirement, rather than an option.
The Police Force must therefore be supported in conducting these targeted exercises, provided that enforcement remains consistent, lawful and applies equally to all motorists. Traffic regulations cannot be effective if violations are tolerated simply because they have become common.
However, enforcement should not stop with motorists.
The continued appearance of illegal lighting devices on vehicles raises an equally important question, how are such products entering the local market in the first place?
The Customs Authority should examine the importation of vehicle lighting products that are prohibited or unsuitable for use on Guyana’s roadways. Greater attention at the point of entry could help prevent illegal equipment from reaching retailers, distributors and motorists. If particular types of lights are known to be prohibited under the traffic laws, there should be stronger mechanisms to identify and intercept such products before they are distributed.
Businesses dealing in automotive products should be expected to understand the legal requirements governing the goods being placed on the market. Where an importer or distributor knowingly sells lighting devices that are illegal for use on public roads, appropriate fines and other penalties should be considered.
Such measures would address the problem further upstream instead of leaving the Police Force to deal repeatedly with the consequences on the road. A motorist who purchases an illegal lighting device should not be the only party facing enforcement when the product was deliberately imported and sold despite its prohibited use.
A coordinated approach involving the Police Force, Customs Authority and businesses involved in the automotive trade would provide a more effective response. Public education also remains important, particularly in ensuring that motorists understand which lighting configurations are permitted and the safety concerns associated with unauthorised devices.
The Region Two operation should serve as a reminder that traffic enforcement cannot be selective or temporary. Repeated warnings have had limited effect in preventing the illegal use of coloured lights, making sustained enforcement necessary.
Road safety depends on compliance with established standards and the Police Force’s action against non-compliant vehicles is warranted, however the objective must be to prevent illegal equipment from reaching the road in the first place. Stronger scrutiny at the importation level within the commercial supply chain and appropriate penalties for those knowingly facilitating the sale of prohibited lighting devices would complement police enforcement and help create safer roadways.