LAST FRIDAY, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said that statistics for traffic offences as at the end of May, 2012 reflected a 26% decrease in accidents and fatalities, when compared to the corresponding period in 2011.
The GPF added that, for the period under review, 2011 recorded 46 fatal accidents resulting in 47 deaths, of which two were children; while 2012 recorded 34 such accidents, resulting in 35 deaths, of which two were children. Division ‘A’, Georgetown, accounted for 13 deaths, the highest across the divisions; while ‘C’ & ‘D’ Divisions each recorded eight deaths.
The GPF said that other categories of accidents, such as serious, minor and damage, reflected 162,226 and 447 incidents respectively for 2011; while 2012 saw the said categories recording figures of 137,191 and 362 incidents respectively; or decreases of 15.4%, 15.4% and 19% for the respective categories.
The police said that speeding continues to be the major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 24 of the 34 such accidents as at May 31, 2012.
Police noted that traffic education and rigid enforcement of traffic laws continue to be the main factors responsible for the recorded reduction of road carnage.
The police said that, in relation to cases made against errant motorists by ranks of the department, up to the end of last month, 16,808 were instituted, of which speeding accounted for 6,932.