THE Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), at its first meeting for this year, yesterday, pledged to work with the authorities as they collaborate with several other agencies to reduce road accidents.

The GNRSC members met at its Secretariat at Guyana Red Cross Building, Battery Road, Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown, where the Chairman, Mr. Nigel Erskine expressed condolences to the families of the two persons killed in the accident at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday night.
He called on the general public to be more committed, practise proper safety and adhere to the five Cs when using the roads.
Erskine noted that speeding, drunk driving and inattentiveness have been the leading contributors to road fatalities and so GNRSC is continuing its collaborative efforts to put in place systems that would result in a reduction of fatalities.
He added that, while there were significantly less road deaths last year, more must be done.
Police Traffic Chief, Superintendent Hugh Denhert reiterated that safety is everybody’s business and also conveyed his sympathy to the families of the two Sunday night victims.
He pointed out that road accidents occur as a result of the negligence of drivers, especially those who fail to observe the rules.
         
Unwanted
Denhert made a plea to all road users to exercise care, stating that every death on the roads is unwanted.
The Traffic Chief said, this year, the police will focus on enforcement against such as speeding, drunk driving, pedestrians who walk and text on cell phones and even those driving and using the instruments.
Denhert said the campaign will be executed countrywide to get the desired results and to ensure drivers and other road users adhere to the laws.
GNRSC Treasurer, Mr. Colvert Venture urged pedal cyclists and motorists to use reflective vests and helmets, by which they can be easily recognised, particularly at nights, as a preventative measure.
He said GNRSC has been advocating for a change in the culture of road usage and encouraged the wearing of bright clothing at nights.
Venture voiced his concern over the habit of texting and walking or driving, mentioning a new trend in which pedestrians walk and text on their cell phones, not paying any attention to traffic on the roads.
He stated that, for last year, motorcyclists were the leading victims of road fatalities, followed by pedestrians and said GNRSC would like to lower the deaths, by 50 percent, in the United Nations (UN) Decade of Action in 2020.
GNRSC Executive member, Mr. Norman McLean said he is lobbying for education in schools which will have a significant impact on children influencing their parents and guardians to reduce road accidents, injuries and deaths.
He emphasised the necessity for the courts to be consistent in what they do for justice, since he finds that some fines are so minor and can hardly be recognised given the loss of lives.                          
GNRSC Coordinator, Ms. Ramona Doorgen said they have seen the lowest number of road fatalities in 2012 and the Police Traffic Department was congratulated for the statistics.
She said that education remains the key for road safety and the schools teamed up with the Police Traffic Department in awareness programmes countrywide.
Doorgen said they are now equipped with stop signs and vests and will continue with their education campaign in schools.