There is no doubt that the spate of traffic accidents has reached an alarming and unacceptable level and the current trend indicates that it will worsen because, apart from the increasing fatalities on our roads, hardly a day goes by without one or more accidents occurring.

The situation therefore, is an untenable one as we all are aware of the suffering and agony that result from these horrific accidents. There is no alternative but to grab the proverbial bull by its horns if we are to arrest and reverse the seemingly unending tragedies on our roads.

The statistics  confirm how grave is the situation as the Police Traffic Department revealed that 7,660 cases of speeding; 939 cases of  breaching  conditions of road service licences; 579 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol; 377 cases of the use of cellular phones while driving; and 272 cases of breach of traffic lights were recorded for the year so far.

Statistics show that 75 persons, including seven children, lost their lives from 67 road accidents this year. While for the corresponding period last year, 63 deaths were recorded in 62  accidents
The causes of traffic accidents are known and they include speeding, drunken driving, poor driving attitudes, carelessness and recklessness, etc. However, what is of prime importance is finding a solution to our traffic headaches.

Too often in this country people spend too much time and energy in highlighting things that are already well established and known instead of using that same time and energy in searching for solutions to problems, difficulties and challenges.

In this regard, we need to apply a comprehensive approach to find a long- term solution, as we look for short and medium-term solutions.

In our comprehensive approach to tackle our traffic problems, we need to look at law enforcement capacity, applying greater use of technology, education and awareness at all levels of society – particularly among children and drivers, increasing the use of technology, population growth, vehicular growth, stray animals, infrastructural development, etc. All sections of society should be involved in the process as Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee recently and correctly asserted, “road safety is everybody’s business”.
On this note, it is encouraging to see the establishment of a Road Safety Steering Committee to promote road safety on the East Coast of Demerara. The eight-member team, which comprises drivers of hire cars and minibuses, and representatives of the Guyana Road Safety Council, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Guyana Police Force, will meet once monthly.

This is a most welcome development, but consideration should also be given to the inclusion of students, teachers and education officials on the Committee because they are a crucial target group in terms of heightening and promoting road safety awareness and education.

One of the focal points which members of the Committee should engage in is to change the attitudes of drivers to ensure they comply with the five ‘Cs’. Most of our problems stem from poor attitudes and driving is among them. No matter how much safety mechanisms, patrols, penalties, etc, are implemented, if the attitudes of drivers do not change to one that is responsible we will continue to experience horrific accidents on our roads, which have already reached unbearable levels.

In short, a healthy driving culture has to be inculcated in our drivers.
However, it is noteworthy that, at the forum which saw the establishment of the Committee, several important issues were touched upon including a higher presence of traffic ranks on the roadways at nights, parks for hire cars and buses, installation of more reflectors on the roadways in the absence of road lights, the clearance of garbage from roads, and for more responsible conduct among drivers.

It is now hoped that similar Committees will be replicated across the country sooner than later because time is definitely not on our side.