THE Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) yesterday rolled out their list of activities for road safety month which will be launched today with the aim of promoting greater care and courtesy on the roads.And speaking to the media yesterday morning at a press briefing at the Red Cross Society building, Eve Leary, Georgetown, acting GNRSC Chairman Major General (retired) Norman McLean said that annually in November the GNRSC celebrates Road Safety Month when they step up all activities countrywide to create greater awareness.
He added that the list of activities for November will be launched at Parliament Park at Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam today where a programme is planned, involving representatives from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Guyana Police Force Traffic Officer Kevin Adonis who will give remarks, and the feature address will be delivered by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee.
SIMULATION EXERCISE
McLean stated that a simulation exercise will also be a part of the programme in which they would depict a minibus crash in order to best highlight the impact and dangers of road accidents and fatalities.
He stated that the theme this year is “Alcohol, speed and inattentiveness cause accidents. Drive wisely to save lives”.
McLean said that this year too, they are focusing more on education through training and he appealed for everyone to consider the significant impact road accidents have on people’s lives when there are deaths, injuries and damage to vehicles.
He pointed out that there are a series of activities that will involve sessions for school-children, seminars, workshops, talk shows and several awareness walks.
83 Deaths
McLean disclosed yesterday that this year they recorded 77 road accidents with 83 deaths and for the corresponding period in 2012 they had 82 road accidents with 82 deaths.
Meanwhile, ‘D’ Division GNRSC Chairman, Shahab Hack said at the press briefing that they too have a several events planned for Road Safety Month and on November 7 they will have a walk titled “Short walk for the long haul” which involves about 400 school-children.
He added that the walk starts from Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast of Demerara to West Demerara Secondary School where Minister Rohee will deliver the feature address at the event which also includes stakeholders from the police, teachers and others.
He disclosed that their intention is to send a strong message about road safety as a result of the influx of vehicles in this country since the roads have become congested.
Hack said that they will be making a presentation of 15 traffic poles to the ‘D’ Division Police Traffic Department and will also be holding several drivers’ seminars.
Also making remarks was GNRSC Executive Member, Narine Ramroop from the Ministry of Local Government, who appealed for volunteers to assist and pledged his support to the activities that were outlined to mark Road Safety Month.
(By Michel Outridge)
