SOME 42,349 drivers were charged for traffic violations and there was a 10 per cent increase in fatal accidents in 2016, Traffic Chief Dion Moore has said.Speaking at a recent press briefing at Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Moore said last year was a deadly one for road users. Some 127 persons were killed on the roadways last year compared with 123 the year before. Of those killed, 32 were pedestrians and 23 were motorcyclists.

This year, the Traffic Chief said more emphasis will be placed on enforcing traffic laws for motorcyclists. The Traffic Chief is of the view that enforcement of the traffic laws is critical to curbing dangerous driving.

Since the launch of Operation Safeway, there has been a change in the attitudes of road users. Prior to its launch in September 2016, fatal accidents had increased by 33 per cent.

“We are at a 30 per cent decrease in the amount of fatal accidents that would have occurred between last year and this year, 2.1 per cent decrease in serious accidents, and a 23 per cent decrease in minor accidents,” he said, but pointed out that there was a 44 per cent increase in vehicular damage due to accidents.

Because of the success of Operation Safeway, the campaign will continue in 2017. Meanwhile, Mayor and City Council City Engineer Colvern Venture said a Transportation Committee has been set up to deal with road networking and congestion.

According to Venture, there is an ongoing study in Georgetown by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) to create bus terminals, to reduce “the congestion that we currently have in the central business areas”.

The study is expected to be completed by March 2017, when major implementation will be made, some of which will need Cabinet’s approval.

Dennis Pompey,Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) Chairman, said that in 2017, Road Safety Councils will be set up in Bartica, Lethem, Essequibo and Mahdia