ROADS are a vital means of transporting people, goods and services from one point to another, and in the wider scheme of commerce, they act as arteries of development.
This is particularly so, because where new roads are constructed development springs forth and mushrooms. In a nutshell, farmlands are opened up, and housing schemes come into being. And with the opening up of housing schemes comes the provision of water, electricity, and a hive of commercial activities.
Roads, therefore, play a key role in facilitating national development, as well as contributing to the happiness and well-being of the citizens in the locale in which they are found.
Simply put, these public infrastructures in totality, yield many benefits for citizens when they are used for their intended purpose. And, likewise, when they are misused, the result could range from minor losses to deep suffering.

Speeding, driving under the influence, texting and driving, and driving while conversing on a cellphone should never be part of the local driving culture, and it is good to see that efforts are being made by the Guyana Police Force to seriously address these problems.
According to statistics from the Guyana Police Force, last year some 19,179 persons were charged for exceeding speed limits; 786 were charged for driving under the influence; 986 were charged for failure to wear safety belts; and 1,924 were charged separately for breaching traffic light signals, and using cellphones while driving.
However, while these statistics tell an encouraging story of work being done by the police to correct lawlessness on the roadways, overall, they also tell a very disturbing story.
It is sad to know that even during the pandemic in which a host of restrictions were implemented, which include a national curfew and the closing of bars and nightspots, Guyana recorded an alarming increase in road fatalities in 2020. And, not surprisingly, speeding and driving under the influence were the main contributing factors.

Quite astonishingly, some 125 road fatalities (including five children) were recorded, representing a 37 per cent increase compared to the previous year, in which 94 deaths were registered.
While naturally, one would query the occurrence of so many road fatalities when there were so many discouraging restrictions in place, the toll road accidents take on the victims and their families cannot go unnoticed. Among these are the loss of earnings, the incurring of medical and funeral expenses, and deep emotional pain for families, as well as a heavy cost on the state’s health institutions to treat victims who are maimed and disabled, and in most cases cannot afford the services of private health facilities.
But, interestingly enough, these sufferings and strain are 100 per cent preventable, if persons use the roadways with care, caution, consideration, commonsense and courtesy.

It is unfortunate that despite the deep losses to families and the state, people still continue to use the roadways in a reckless manner. This kind of unacceptable behaviour by road users should never be tolerated, and it is good to see the senior officers in the various divisions enforcing the law, while promoting road-safety awareness.
The work done by acting Deputy Commander, Assistant Superintendent Raun Clarke, who is stationed in Region Six, is most commendable, and is worthy of emulation by his peers in the other divisions. Through strategic planning and diligent work with the officers under his charge, road fatalities in the region have, for the first quarter of this year, been reduced by an impressive 80 per cent compared to the corresponding year.
So, what has he done? The answer is simple, yet ambitious. The acting deputy commander resuscitated road-safety programmes, got his ranks to diligently enforce the traffic regulations, and worked with residents of communities to get their buy-in on strategies that would ensure safer roads in Region Six.