IN light of the prevalence of road accidents and fatalities, Acting Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Brian Joseph, yesterday said that speeding, inattentiveness and drunk driving are the leading causes and he advised all road users to desist from these practices.
Speaking on the recent road accident which claimed the life of two-year-old Malvin Hartman of Coomacka Mines, Region Ten, he said that the matter is being investigated.
As such he could not make a pronouncement on the latest road fatality that occurred at about 7:30hrs on Monday, at Nottinghamshire Public Road, Old England, Linden and which resulted in the death of Malvin Hartman.
Investigations revealed that motor lorry GNN 2507 and mini-bus BKK 5112 were proceeding along the roadway in opposite directions, when they collided resulting in injuries to the driver and passengers in the mini-bus.
The driver of the minibus, Henry Hartman, 37, of Coomacka Mines, and five passengers have been admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while three persons were admitted at the McKenzie Hospital, where two others were treated and sent away.
The driver of the motor lorry is in police custody assisting with the investigations.
Five persons lost their lives last week on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, when the minibus in which they were travelling suffered a blow-out. Traffic Headquarters said that statistics show 70 deaths from 63 road accidents recorded for this year so far, while for the corresponding period in 2010, 62 road accidents had claimed the lives of 63 persons.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Guyana Police Force 12th award ceremony, on July 20, 2011 Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, said so far for the year, the force has made out a total of 35,096 cases for traffic offences. Of this figure, 7660 were for speeding, 4220 for overloading, 579 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 377 for using cell phones while diving, and 3272 for breach of traffic lights regulations.
These figures, the commissioner said, are a good reflection of what the force is doing.
“The public has a role to play in managing these errant minibus and taxi drivers who want to speed and make 20 trips a day so that they can fill their pockets, not minding the safety of passengers…The passengers are to be blamed; they can choose to get off the bus.”
The commissioner said that the force will continue in its many enforcement efforts, which include the breathalyzer tests, the use of radar guns to curb speeding, and the new legislations.
“I still see a lot of drivers using cell phones while driving. I urge the public to take note and take the number of the errant drivers and bring them in.”
Meanwhile, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNSC) appealed to all road users, be it pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers, or cyclists, to be more responsible in their day to day activities on our roadways.
Recently, almost everyday road accidents have been occurring in and around the city and areas on the East Coast and the East Bank of Demerara, the West Bank and the West Coast of Demerara. A significant increase in road accidents has also been recorded in Berbice in Regions 5 and 6, which is unusual for rural areas.