–Luckily, no one was seriously injured

THE quiet of the peaceful village of Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara was disturbed at around 8:30pm on Friday, when Toyota motor car #PNN 2907 and minibus # BNN 1141 slammed into each other with, fortunately, no serious injury to occupants of either vehicle.

This accident represents the latest incident of dangerous driving on Guyana’s roadways as a result of speeding, and underscores the need for drivers to exercise greater caution to avoid seriously jeopardizing life, limb and

valuable property as they daily negotiate our roadways.

Coming mere days after seven-year-old St Pius schoolboy Joseph Quallis was killed as a result of speeding, it underscores why the most recent statistics emanating from the Police Traffic Department have indicated that road fatalities at the end of 2013 surpassed those of previous years.

There were over 100 fatalities from the accidents that occurred in 2013; and the same period saw reductions in other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage.

So far, pedestrians have been the main road users affected, with more than 37 having lost their lives. In addition, over 16 motor cyclists, 12 pedal cyclists, 14 drivers of motor vehicles, three pillion riders, and 18 passengers of motor vehicles have also lost their lives during 2013.

Speeding continues to be a major contributory factor to fatal accidents, despite police traffic enforcement activities during 2013 resulting in more than 107,650 cases being made against errant motorists. Of that amount, more than 20,443 were for speeding.

(By Sandy Agasen)