WITH there being 34 road deaths, including those of three children already in the first three months of the year, it cannot be overemphasised that all, especially motorists, need to use the roadways with due care.

The latest statistics from the Guyana Police Force has indicated that fatal accidents have increased by four from the corresponding period last year; but, encouragingly, the number of children who perished saw a decline.
The figure went down from nine in 2015 to three from the period January to March 2016, and one would hope that this positive trend continues.

For this to happen, and for accidents — notably fatal accidents — to be avoided, motorists would need to pay greater attention to driving defensively/responsibly.

Defensive/responsible driving allows them an opportunity to evade any danger heading their way, and be on the lookout for children and the elderly, who normally are not sharp on judging speed, as they tend to average distance. If this approach is adopted, it would undoubtedly result in a halt in speeding and driving under the influence, which remain the chief causes of road accidents.

The end result will be one for all to celebrate, as it would result in a dip in the number of accidents as well as fatal accidents, the latter of which continue to rob the nation of its most vital resource — its people.

Sunday’s accident, which claimed the lives of young Hansranie Persaud and her friend Rudolph Bess, could have been avoided had a driver involved at the time been using the road with due care and caution. Our editorial on Tuesday, which focused on the accident and young Hansranie, attracted some criticism, and rightfully so, as it appeared to have singled out the young lady for blame. This was not our intention, and we sincerely apologise to the family of young Hansranie and all our readers who found some of the sentiments expressed in the editorial to be offensive. The aim was to point out the need for greater parental supervision and for parents to have more open conversations with their children to avoid situations like Hansranie’s.

No one party should be blamed for a high school student being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a 23-year-old man. In the first place, it is wrong for the latter to be involved in a relationship with a school girl aged 16. We reiterate that situations like these can be effectively addressed not only by parents and their children being open with each other, but also by the tightening of the system to squeeze out reckless drivers, who are responsible for the carnage on our roadways.

In the past 10 years, some 1,360 persons have perished in road accidents, with pedestrians, motor cyclists and pedal cyclists being the main victims. From police reports, 451 pedestrians, 216 motor cyclists and 191 pedal cyclists have died during this period. Regular patrols and the use of speed guns have been helpful in tackling the problem, but more can be done. It is time that efforts be made to have all drivers of vehicles, who use the public roadways, undergo mandatory re-testing every three years. This would not only indoctrinate in them the need to use the roads with care, but it will help in identifying and lessening the number of persons who obtained their licences through underhand means.