A total of 17 road fatalities from 17 accidents have been recorded at the end of February 2016, in comparison to 19 fatalities from 12 accidents for the same period in 2015, statistics released by the Guyana Police Force have revealed.The latest statistics have indicated an 11 per cent decrease in road fatalities when compared to the corresponding period the previous year.

Notably, one child has died as a result of a traffic accident at the end of February this year, compared to seven for the same period last year.

According to the Police Force, as of March 13, 2016, six more persons lost their lives from six fatal accidents, bringing the total to 23 road deaths for the year thus far.

The Force also noted that pedestrians have been the main category of road users affected so far in road fatalities with five such persons losing their lives at the end of February 2016.

Additionally, three pedal cyclists, three motor cyclists, four drivers, one passenger in a motor vehicle and one pillion rider also lost their lives.

“Speeding has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents, having been the cause of 10 of the 17 fatal accidents at the end of February 2016,” the statistics revealed.

It was noted that traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 11,783 cases for this year being made against errant motorists at the end of February 2016.

Of this total, 4,080 cases were for speeding, 442 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 130 for using cell phone while driving, and 379 for failing to wear seat belt.

The Traffic Department has intensified its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, driving motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving a motor vehicle.