THE road fatality toll reached 33 after the most recent crash which claimed the life of a 24-year-old man, at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, last Sunday. The total, for the period January 1 to May 14, compared to 40 for the corresponding period in 2011. Over the same time, there were 32 accidents in 2012, in comparison to 40 in 2011.
The growing numbers, triggered by the ongoing mayhem in just under five months, has prompted the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) to express concern.
The body also called on users to act more responsibly when using the roads, in order to curb this devastating and counter-productive trend.
Noting the upsurge in the numbers and statistics for those crippled, maimed or otherwise injured, the GNRSC cited speeding, recklessness and drunken driving as the main causes of the deplorable carnage on the nation’s thoroughfares.
While recognising that every user has a part to play in helping to keep the nation’s roads safe, the GNRSC blamed the lawlessness, to a great extent, on motorists.
Officials of the GNRSC feel strongly that, however labeled, the root cause of such developments, is motorists ignoring the five Cs of road safety, care, caution, courtesy, consideration and commonsense, which, invariably, smacks at disregard for the traffic laws.

Contributing factors
Coordinator of GNRSC, Ms. Ramona Doorgen said: “Blatant disregard for traffic laws and traffic advisories are the major contributing factors for road accidents which we, as responsible Guyanese, are, desperately, trying to reduce substantially.”
Looking at the bigger picture, she noted that major accidents have resulted in loss of lives and serious disability to persons involved.
“Almost all accidents impacted financially on our economy and have distressed all parties involved, emotionally and physically and have, significantly, disturbed the social welfare of all the affected families,” she said.
Doorgen said GNRSC is not turning a blind eye to the malpractices of pedal cyclists and pedestrians and alluded to what she termed their lackluster attitude to road safety.
“Pedestrians and cyclists are also to be blamed for their carefree and sloppy attitudes when using the roadways. These behaviours should be discontinued immediately to put an end to some of these needless road crashes and deaths. These victims did not need to die,” a release from the organisation said.
It ended with an appeal to all road users to bear in mind that the reduction of road accidents can only be achieved with their input.
“Again, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) is pleading with all road users and responsible Guyanese to join with us in our campaign to help stop the road carnage, by correcting the careless ways in which we use our roads and adhering to the road safety and traffic laws, with a view to making our streets and roads safer,” the release appealed.