West Demerara motorists decry poor traffic management

The Christmas season at its peak has resulted in many traffic congestions along the West Demerara Public Road, with lines extending hundreds of metres.
On Thursday, several motorists and taxi operators called for better traffic management, especially at the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) and Vreed-en-Hoop junction in the early hours of the day.

One driver told Guyana Times that he spent 35 minutes from Goed Fortuin to the DHB junction, which, in normal circumstances, would have taken just over 10 minutes.
This is due to motorists boycotting the lines to use the sidewalk, coupled with an increase in holiday shoppers crowding the streets. However, he believes the situation can be less stressful with intervention from the Guyana Police Force.
Joseph Montgomery explained, “Everybody using the same line to come to the junction. Some choose to use the parapet and drive like they crazy until they reach the front while other people still waiting at the back. How is that fair? Tell me”.
According to him, those boycotting the legal barrier to use the “fast way” are causing danger to the lives of other road users. It was indicated that on some occasions, Police Officers are stationed to ensure uniformed traffic flow. However, in many scenarios, the junction is left unsupervised, allowing drivers to break the law.
Meanwhile, this publication spoke to a taxi driver who insisted that he is losing money from the increased time for one drop.
“I wasting more time and gas. Sometimes you waiting in the line with two people. That’s just $200 for one spin for a whole half an hour. It ain’t make sense. Most people staying home cause we ain’t making anything much,” he insisted.
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Leslie James addressed traffic and carnage on the roadways, stating that motorists must develop better attitudes. He said that road users need to change their attitude for there to be a significant reduction in minor, serious and fatal accidents.
“We would like to see a change in the attitude of motorists and the way in which they use our roads and they would have heard statements made by the Traffic Chief in that regard, speaking directly to persons who are using the road, who decide on occasion the way in which they would drive or the way in which they would use the road resulting in serious fatalities…It’s almost as if they’re flouting the law,” he cautioned.
Since last Sunday, the Force employed a new operation to decreased these numbers and make the roads safer, especially during the holiday season. James said more human resources will be put aside for this until there is a positive change.
“We are out there in numbers…We sat and strategized after which we commenced an operation referred to as ‘Operation Safe Roads’…We’ve been doing what we have to do. We’ll continue to do what we have to do. We have increased numbers now following this operation that commenced on Sunday and this will continue until we see a change in the attitude of those using the road,” the Top Cop had stressed.