Traffic tickets tell a telling story

The disclosure from the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department on traffic tickets and speeding fines paints a troubling portrait of a national road culture spiralling further into recklessness. With approximately 47,600 traffic tickets already issued for the year, the data underscores an entrenched pattern of dangerous behaviour that continues to claim lives, damage property, and stretch public resources. The widespread lack of caution on the nation’s roads is no longer a matter of indiscipline alone; it has evolved into a public safety crisis that demands urgent, uncompromising intervention.
The introduction of the Safe Road Intelligence System in April, generating some 15,000 tickets to date, has provided an unfiltered view of what occurs daily on the roadways. The presence of speed cameras at 26 locations nationwide has captured what many already knew: speeding remains one of the most pervasive and perilous offences committed by motorists. The revelation that some drivers were clocked at speeds as high as 180 km/h would be astonishing were it not such a frequent hallmark of a road culture where disregard for speed limits has become almost casual.
The scale of the issue is further evident in the sheer number of speeding cases, more than 32,000 so far, accounting for over $200 million in revenue. These figures, while significant, tell a story of continued transgression rather than progress. The financial penalties, though substantial, have not yet served as a meaningful deterrent for many. When the risk of harm or death fails to curb reckless behaviour, the responsibility falls squarely on the regulatory and enforcement frameworks to act with sharper teeth.
Driving under the influence of alcohol remains another persistent threat. More than 1400 cases were recorded this year, with only 21 licences suspended. The low number of suspensions stands in stark contrast to the volume of offenders and raises legitimate questions about whether existing penalties are proportionate to the danger posed. A driver impaired by alcohol is, in essence, operating a potential weapon on wheels. Failing to enforce meaningful consequences only invites greater risk.
Beyond the individual offences lies the broader challenge of law enforcement fatigue. With more than 120,000 traffic cases filed this year and over 22,000 summonses issued, the burden on the judicial and policing systems is enormous. The 717 executed warrants and the $5.3 million generated in related revenue represent systemic pressure that should not be necessary, pressure created almost entirely by preventable behaviour. Infrastructure can be improved, systems can be modernised, but if motorists continue to treat road laws as suggestions rather than obligations, the problem will persist.
The stern warning issued by the Traffic Chief highlights the seriousness with which the Police Force views the ongoing violations. Obstructive parking in shopping districts, dangerous placement of vehicles, and misuse of state-affiliated transport all form part of the wider tapestry of disregard. The reminder that state-owned vehicles offer no shield from accountability is timely and necessary. The impending implementation of the demerit point system signals a shift toward stricter, less negotiable enforcement. For a system long plagued by inconsistency and leniency, this represents progress.
Equally significant is the collaborative work between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers. The move toward stronger penalties for dangerous driving, alongside measures to streamline enforcement, indicates recognition at the policy level that the status quo is untenable. Stronger laws alone will not resolve the issue, but they are an essential foundation for rebuilding a culture of responsibility on the roads.
The prevailing attitude of many drivers continues to place communities at risk. Excessive speeding, drunk driving, reckless manoeuvres, and habitual non-compliance have created an environment in which road safety cannot be assured. The human cost of this behaviour extends far beyond ticket numbers or revenue collected; it reverberates through families, workplaces, and institutions.
What the data makes clear is that stronger enforcement must be met with a corresponding shift in driver behaviour. Compliance cannot continue to be driven only by the presence of cameras or patrols. The nation cannot afford a road culture where adherence to the law is optional. Every motorist has a responsibility to contribute to safer roads.