The first fatal accident for this year was recorded on Sunday when a 32-year-old man died at 48 Mile, Mabura Road .He was pronounced dead on arrival at Lethem Hospital. Dead is Nashaw Shameer, of De Kinderen Public Road, West Coast Demerara. It was reported that the vehicle in which Shameer was travelling flipped over when the driver lost control while negotiating a turn and encountered boulders on the road. Shameer was seated behind the driver on the left side of the vehicle and was reportedly pinned in the mangled wreck.

Meanwhile, on December 31, 2009, a man was arrested following a fatal accident at about 20:00 h at Number 57 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, which resulted in the death of pedal cyclist Ravendra Roopnarine, 28, of Number 58 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Roopnarine and two others were cycling along the roadway when he was struck down by a motor car. He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

And on the same day, the body of Mahase Sanichar, 56, of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, was found on a roadway at Zeelugt at about 21:35 hours.

It is suspected that he was the victim of a hit-and accident. Based on investigations conducted so far, the police have arrested three men and detained a mini-bus.

Statistics at Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary, say that in 2008, 113 persons, including seven children, died in 99 road accidents, while in 2009, in 97 road accidents, 118 persons were killed, including 18 children.

The Traffic Department will continue “Operation Safeway” in 2010.

And Deputy Superintendent, Traffic ‘A’ Division, John Daniels, yesterday commented on horse/donkey drawn carts operating on the roads.

He explained that for the carts to operate at night, they must have a white light on the front of the cart not more than four feet above the cart, while at the rear a lantern must be hanging under the cart.

Mr. Daniels noted that the carts are not required to be registered and as such do not have licenses.

He added that while animal drawn carts have not been involved in many road accidents, there are numerous complaints regarding the manner in which they operate on the roadways.

Mr. Daniels said too that the driver of the horse or donkey carts must be over 18 years.