TRAFFIC Chief Ian Amsterdam yesterday said last weekend was one of the most deadly in recent times, with the occurrence of five road fatalities and has urged all drivers to be more defensive instead of aggressive while driving.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, he added that they have tallied 60 road accidents with 66 deaths in 2014; nine among the fatalities were children.

Additionally, he stated that so far for 2015, 60 persons have lost their lives in 49 road accidents, with 10 of the fatalities being children, as at Friday last. This represents an apparent 83.3% decrease in accidents and a 9% decrease in deaths.

The traffic chief noted that the statistics have changed over the weekend for this year, although they have remained the same for last year.

He revealed that so far for this year, 54 road accidents have been recorded; a decrease of 10% with 65 deaths; a decrease of 2% and a 22% increase in the deaths of children on our roadways.

Amsterdam disclosed that Friday night last, the first fatality for the weekend occurred at D’urban Street, Georgetown, between Lime and Palm Streets, when a pedestrian stepped into the path of a speeding minibus.

Meanwhile, on Saturday at about 16:00 hrs, an eight -year-old child was struck down by a car at Lancaster, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara and approximately half-an-hour later, another fatal accident took place in Essequibo.

The senior officer said that on Sunday morning a pedal cyclist rode into the path of a car on the Railway Embankment close to the Access Road at Foulis, East Coast Demerara and was killed.

He explained that later Sunday morning a victim of a serious accident succumbed to his injuries while in hospital, after he was involved in an accident at Enmore, also on the East Coast of Demerara.

With regard to the current statistics, Amsterdam said something must be done to reduce the figures, since it is not looking very good, noting that there is a total disregard by road users for the basic traffic laws.

He said that it was long noted that many people use the roadways carelessly and even though there are traffic education programmes and enforcement campaigns countrywide, some people are still bent on breaking the law.

Amsterdam added that they have since been vigilant in their patrols from 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs in all divisions and have since identified pedestrians and pedal cyclists as most vulnerable to fatalities.

He concluded that speeding is one of the leading contributors to road accidents and fatalities also.