– will embark on initiatives to reduce number even as three children perish in road accidents for 2014
IN just a little over a month into the new year, three children have already become road fatalities on the country’s roads; and Romona Doorgen, Coordinator of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), pointed out in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that, at the moment, road accidents statistics are already above the corresponding period for last year.“For this year, so far, there have been ten road accidents, compared to nine in 2013, resulting in 11 deaths, the same as last year. However, three children have died this year, compared to last year, when only one child died,” Doorgen disclosed.

Though this year’s road accident statistics are not substantially higher than last year’s, Doorgen was still disappointed at the figures, adding that “it is not looking good (to be) starting off the statistics neck-and-neck.”

In 2013, there was a total of 103 road fatalities, compared to 102 for 2012; and Doorgen highlighted that youth drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, and 25 and 33, have been the most vulnerable to road fatalities for both years. In 2013, 33 youth drivers in the 16 to 24 age category died because of their involvement in accidents; while 27 youths in this same age category died under similar circumstances in 2012.
Moreover, 39 drivers between the ages of 25 and 33 died in 2013 because of their involvement in accidents, whereas 44 drivers in this same age category died under similar circumstances in 2012.

Doorgen noted that consequent close attention must be paid to young drivers to prevent the numbers of fatalities from growing larger each year. She disclosed that the GNRSC will, this year, collaborate with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to develop a ‘young drivers training programme’.

She attributed the outcome of most road accidents to the attitude of drivers, and added that most accidents are due to drunk driving and speeding. “We cannot have the police at every rum shop or corner…. If we can change human behaviour and attitude, then we will have a significant reduction (in road fatalities),” she opined.

Doorgen also noted that many drivers think they are invincible and that they cannot get involved in road accidents. She deemed this unfortunate, since many of those persons eventually become statistics.

She opined that persons caught driving while under the influence of alcohol (drinking and driving included) should be most harshly punished. “If they are not severely punished, they (will) commit the act again. I think the fines should be raised to hundreds of thousands of dollars, because people don’t like (to) spend money. So if they think it will cost them a lot, they will be more cautious,” she reasoned.

She disclosed that the GNRSC will, this year, embark on a number of initiatives which, hopefully, will aid in reducing road accidents countrywide. One such initiative involves compiling information on black spots in the country with the aim of publicising them, as is currently being undertaken. Doorgen said the GNRSC hopes to attract the support of private and public entities to assist GNRSC in getting these black spots publicised with a view to cautioning persons of their existence.

Another initiative entails the GNRSC working aggressively with schools to revitalise road safety patrols in the country. Doorgen said that some students are already under police training to become patrols. She pointed out that drivers need to adhere to the instructions signalled by school patrols, because delinquent drivers risk being charged.

The GNRSC, she said, is also currently working on compiling a road safety magazine for publication this year. That magazine would include information such as ticketing fines and speed limits, among other useful information. The agency is hoping that less than 80 road fatalities are recorded in the country this year, and Doorgen stressed that it would be ideal if no more road deaths are recorded for this year.
Written By Sabatini Daniels