Curbing road deaths…
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee has complimented the Guyana Police Force (GPF), especially the Traffic Department, for a job well done in 2008, by reducing road accidents and resulting deaths.

Reviewing the statistics, at his end-of-year media briefing last week, he declared: “I can confidently report that, while the situation has not been reversed to the desired level, significant progress has been made.”

He reported that, at December 12, 2008, there were 99 fatal accidents resulting in 113 deaths, as compared with 169 fatalities from 207 mishaps in the year before.

Rohee said the percentage reduction in deaths was 54.6.

He added that, for the same period in 2007, 30 children were killed as against seven in 2008.

Rohee said the figures represent a dramatic turnaround of events for 2008 and the success could be attributed to more law enforcement activities on the roads.

But he admitted that there is still need for motorists and pedestrians to exercise greater courtesy and care and he admonished both groups to avoid speeding, drinking and driving.

Under the new traffic law, a motorist caught driving under the influence (DUI) for the first time will be fined $7,500, for the second offence the defaulter would lose the licence for 12 months and, on the third occasion, the driver will not be allowed to drive again.

Rohee maintained that drastic remedial action has to be taken under the circumstances.

&Speeding on our highways needs to be curbed,” he emphasised.