Top cop urges national road safety reset as fatal accidents surge by 20%

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has called for road safety to be treated as a national priority, emphasising its critical role in reducing road incidents and saving lives, given the alarming increase in fatal accidents. The Commissioner issued this plea at the Guyana National Road Safety Stakeholders Forum 2025, urging all citizens to treat road safety with utmost seriousness to reduce casualties on the country’s roadways.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported 70 road deaths as of 26 July 2025, marking a 6 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2024. There were 66 fatal accidents, representing a 20 per cent rise. Meanwhile, 166 serious accidents fell by 7 per cent, 235 minor accidents dropped by 4 per cent, and 428 damage-only accidents decreased by 3 per cent. Only two child fatalities were recorded—a 50 per cent reduction.
Integrity, responsibility, strategic focus
Hicken stated that the GPF, regulatory bodies and public transportation associations must uphold their duties with integrity, responsibility and strategic focus.
“Road safety must be a national priority. This means embedding it into Guyana’s policies, designing safe infrastructure, investing in education and enforcement and cultivating a culture where every life is valued and protected.”
The top cop admitted however, that enforcement alone would not solve the issue.
“The GPF can increase patrols, implement speed cameras and prosecute offenders — and we will. But unless people change their collective attitudes toward road use, Guyana will continue to bury its children, family members and friends.”
He added that this forum is an opportunity to move beyond rhetoric into real partnerships, real solutions, and real behavior change for drivers in Guyana. Hicken urged all road users to “do the right thing” by slowing down, avoiding alcohol and drugs while driving, wearing helmets, respecting traffic laws and caring for one another.
“Let this forum not be just another event. Let it be a turning point where we shift the national consensus, where road safety becomes second nature and where the phrase ‘do the right thing’ is not just a slogan but a way of life,” he said.
He noted that while overall accidents have decreased by 3 per cent compared to the same period last year, fatal accidents have increased by 20 per cent claiming 70 lives on Guyana’s roads which is very concerning. “This sobering figure is more than just a statistic. It is a heartbreaking reminder that behind each number is a life lost, a family shattered and a future stolen. This forum is not solely about data, reporting, or strategies. It is fundamentally about accountability in three essential forms:
Personal accountability – Individuals must accept responsibility for their actions on the road. Every decision, whether speeding, texting while driving, ignoring a signal, or failing to wear a seat belt, can mean the difference between life and death.
Institutional accountability – Agencies must take responsibility for implementing effective strategies to keep the roads safe. Societal accountability – Communities must work together to change behaviours and attitudes.”
Hicken also pointed out that a high percentage of road accidents involve men, a concern also echoed by the Minister of Home Affairs.
“We men have to do better. The police force already has a difficult and strenuous task in dealing with reckless drivers, and too many men engage in dangerous behaviour — playing loud music, speeding and driving carelessly in minibuses and cars. It won’t change overnight, but we have to take action. We must confront this problem because too many lives are at stake. We must engage men directly, hold them accountable and break the cycle of insecurity and recklessness on our roads.”