AMID the rising rate of road fatalities in Guyana, stakeholders have advocated for education enforcement for road users and the re-establishment of Regional Road Safety Councils to help curb the scourge.

This was disclosed on Thursday by senior members of the Guyana Police Force and members of the National Road Safety Council during the ‘Police and You’ programme.

The country’s Traffic Chief, Dennis Stephens said that there was a six per cent increase in road fatalities in 2022 compared to the previous year.

There were six fatal accidents involving children which occurred during the weekend hours.

Stephens said that pedestrians remain one of the “most vulnerable” groups affected with 39 deaths recorded.

Additionally, 21 motorcyclists lost their lives in 2022, while a total of 661 motorcyclists were involved in accidents.

“One of the challenges that we observed is that a lot of persons are not obeying the rules of the road. That is the reason why the traffic department is tasked to work more with the National Road Council of all stakeholders in our education effort.

“We are going to use this year as a year for the educational aspect, more education enforcement. We intend to work with all stakeholders, all persons who are willing. We are looking to have a 50 per cent reduction [in road accidents],” the Traffic Chief said.

To reach this goal, Stephens said that the GPF will be continuing their road safety literacy programmes in schools along with private and public transportation to raise more awareness.

He added that seven of the persons who lost their lives in the fatal accidents were users of electric motorcycles and were not holders of driver’s licences. The education programmes will also cater to these users, who lack road safety knowledge.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Ravindradat Budhram said that National Regional Road Safety Councils will be rolled out in all the regions across Guyana to curb the road fatality rates.

The Region Nine council will be established today (January 13) in Lethem, while the council in Regions Two and Six are “very active.”

“As you are aware, we need our roads to be safe. We have noted the figures … So, the causes and the issues we have on our roadways will be addressed.

“Additionally, we have noted the number of vehicles coming into our country and the works that are ongoing in terms of road and infrastructure. There is a need for traffic enforcement. There is a need for traffic education in our schools. There is a need to educate our pedestrians as to the use of the road,” Budhram said.

He said that GPF’s aim is to enhance the National Safety Council with a view of educating the public in terms of traffic issues and to reduce the current road fatalities figure.

However, Budhram said that this cannot be done without a collective approach.

Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Earl Lambert said that the regional councils will bring the public on board where road safety is concerned since it should not be the sole responsibility of the police.

“Road Safety is everybody’s business whether you’re a pedestrian, cyclist, driver, cart operator or motorist. The duty is wherever you’re going safely. The fact is that many people try to get there fast or not in a safe manner. And so, the work is one where you have to involve all citizens,” Lambert said.

He disclosed that the current mandate is to go into the regions along with the traffic heads to set up the councils with the involvement of businesses, community leaders, the education department and the Ministry of Public Works.

“We’re hoping that they will have some responsibility in assisting the police in this so that everybody will be involved. I am hoping that at the end of your time that it will be a success and we can use it as a partnership going forward,” the Chairman stressed.

In November 2022, the National Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022 to promote and enforce safe driving.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., had previously emphasised the relationship between drunk driving and the high number of road fatalities, dubbing the bill as a timely law-making intervention to address a “chronic” problem.

The bill introduced the offence of motor manslaughter, where a person causes the death of another by driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of a drink or drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. It also provides penalties for causing grievous bodily harm while driving under the influence of alcohol or a drug.

The bill also imposed harsher penalties for the offence of driving under the influence.

Currently, the penalty is a fine between $30,000 to $60,000 or 12 years imprisonment. Also included was an increase in the fine to $200,000 for driving or attempting to drive while blood alcohol levels exceed the prescribed limit.

The amendment proposed no less than $200,000 for first-time offenders and no less than $300,000 for repeat offenders. Also, persons convicted under this section will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months.