OPERATION Safeway has already begun to make an impact on the situation of driving under the influence, as there has been a notable decrease in all categories of road accidents within the past week.Police Public Relations and Press Officer, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, reported that on Friday night alone, 152 persons were given a breathalyser test, and the breaths of 28 were found to have alcohol above the legal limit.

He also pointed out that a total 1,546 cases were made thus far, of which 567 were for speeding and 96 were for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Operation Safeway sees traffic ranks on the road conducting rigid exercises throughout the country, but more especially in Georgetown and on the East Bank and East Coast Demerara.
It also features an increase in traffic patrols both by day and night, and the re-introduction of spotting exercises. There is, moreover, an increase in the deployment of ranks in hot spots for accidents, and frequent use of radar guns to target speeding drivers, along with random breathalyser testing.

At the launch of Operation Safeway, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine said the rate at which people are killed on the country’s roadways is unacceptable, disturbing, and of very much concern, especially since Guyana is a small developing country.

Cabinet has expressed its support for this initiative taken by the GPF to address road accidents, and urges the general public to cooperate with the police to bring about a change in the situation.