THE Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) has revealed its calendar of activities for Road Safety Month, celebrated anually in October.And while on the subject of road safety, GNRSC Chairman, David Pompey, told a press conference Friday at the Guyana Red Cross Society that the organisation is deeply concerned about the alarmingly high accident rate, and as such is encouraging all road users to observe every rule governing the use of our roads.

He disclosed that branches of the association have since been formed on the East and West Coasts of Demerara, and the association is looking to open branches in other divisions, such as in Essequibo.

The Association is in the process of planning its activities for Road Safety Month, and is encouraging persons to come on board for the Road Safety March, which will take place in front of The Public Buildings.

Pompey said the GNRSC will also hold a Road Safety Awareness walk, besides engaging itself in press briefings, symposia, and other activities.

Acting Traffic Chief Dion Moore, disclosed that 71 fatal accidents have occurred for this year, as against 90 for the corresponding period last year. He said this shows a 21% decrease in road deaths.

He also said that this year, 85 persons died on our roads, as against 98 for 2014, which reveals a 13% decrease; and this year, 12 children were killed in road accidents, while for the corresponding period last year, 11 children died.

Moore said that, in terms of serious accidents, 291 have been recorded to date, in comparison with 311 last year; and as for minor accidents, 369 have been recorded this year, as compared to 376 tallied last year.

He added that there have been 611 damage accidents in 2015, with 586 being recorded for last year, whereas, at the end of July, we were at an increase.

Moore told reporters that the police have since embarked on a rigid enforcement campaign in August, and this has seen a reduction in road accidents as compared to the previous year.

He said the police have a task force and currently work in four divisions – ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’. He said the team would go into the divisions, conduct enforcement activities, and return; and one of the enforcement strategies implemented is the testing of drivers for alcohol content.

The senior officer said the police have noted with great concern that drivers imbibe more alcohol than the law allows, and that speeding remains one of the major contributory factors to fatalities and accidents.

Moore disclosed that for this year, the police have charged 1451 persons for speeding, and 727 persons who breached traffic light-controlled signals have so far been charged. The police have been aided by the use of Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) in place.

The Task Force has been doing a great job; and with the support of the public, a lot more can be done in terms of reporting an infraction by drivers, as well as by police officers who themselves commit traffic violations.

Moore is asking members of the public to give the police information they possess, so they can retrain ranks to be more professional in dealing with the public, and all road users can be safe on the roads.

Moore reported that by the end of 2015, the police intend to have a reduction in road accidents by at least 10%, and they are optimistic that by the end of the year they will achieve this overall goal.
He said the police are working with the GNRSC and all the road safety associations, as well as the Ministries of Public Security and Public Infrastructure, and the police are getting good support. As such, accidents and deaths will be significantly reduced on our roads. (Michel Outridge)