THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported Wednesday that three fatal accidents occurred recently on the roadways and according to investigations they were caused by speeding and tiredness.

In one case the accident occurred when an unlicensed 15-year-old reportedly took a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and was speeding along the roadway, a press release stated.

In the other two instances, the drivers were “overworked” and drove the vehicles while in a tired state of mind and this caused them to lose control of the vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Department is urging owners of motor vehicles to make every effort to prevent unlicensed persons from having access to the keys of their vehicles; and at the same time the police are calling on motorists, as far as practicable, not to continue driving a motor vehicle once they recognise that they are in a tired state.

The Traffic Department is continuing to work assiduously to prevent vehicular accidents, especially those resulting in the loss of life.

During the period February 2 to 8, 2015, a number of cases have been made against motorists for breaching the traffic laws.

These include:

Speeding                                                                    662
Driving Under the Influence                                       27
Breach of Condition of Road Service Licence           31
Careless Driving                                                          11
Dangerous Driving                                                      18
Fail to wear safety helmet                                           10
Fail to wear seat belt                                                   52
Prohibition of the use of hand-held mobile phone     10

However, 15 persons were charged for the soliciting of passengers (touting).

And in a separate incident on Tuesday, ranks of a police marine patrol at Waraputa, Essequibo River, searched a boat in which an unlicensed 12-gauge shotgun and eight cartridges were found.

Two men have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.