Minister Benn calls for collective action to curb accidents, with males leading in fatalities

FOR 2023, Guyana has witnessed a shocking 76.8 per cent spike in fatal accidents, with male drivers bearing a disproportionate 79.2per cent increase in fatalities, sparking urgent calls for targeted interventions to address this pressing road-safety crisis.

This alarming revelation was made by Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn during his ministry’s end-of-year review on Wednesday, as he stressed the critical need for collective efforts to prevent accidents and fatalities

“We don’t want persons run over or getting into accidents. We want to engage with you in respect to these matters in totality. We don’t mind your critique, but it has to be, as I said, fact-based,” stated Minister Benn, urging a collective effort to improve road safety.

Addressing specific concerns, the minister pointed out the challenges posed by construction materials hindering traffic flow on roadways, highlighting ongoing infrastructural development efforts.

He urged people to leave early, emphasising the importance of arriving safely without the stress of potential accidents.

Benn acknowledged the collaborative role of law enforcement in addressing traffic management and overall crime-related issues.

“While the infrastructure comes in place and while the police and others are responding to the overall questions, we need your help,” he urged.

The minister shed light on plans to increase fines for road-traffic violations, especially speeding, and underlined the alarming trend of young men losing their lives in avoidable situations.

“There is a particular cohort of young men who are dying on our roads, and we have to work with those in our Information Management outreaches to make an improvement in that situation,” Benn stated.

The statistics for 2023 paint a troubling picture, showing a 76.8 per cent increase in fatal accidents compared to the previous year, with the total number of fatalities soaring from 99 to 175.
Speeding emerged as the primary culprit, showing a staggering 110 per cent increase and accounting for 128 fatalities.

What captures attention is the gender disparity, as male drivers faced a disproportionate increase of 79.2 per cent in fatalities, compared to a 64.7per cent rise among female drivers.
This stark contrast underlines the urgency to address specific challenges faced by male drivers on the roads.

The age-based analysis paints a worrisome picture, with the 25–42 age group accounting for 43.4 per cent of all fatalities. Shockingly, the 16–24 age group witnessed a staggering 153.8 per cent increase in fatalities, highlighting the vulnerability of young drivers.

Motorcyclists encountered an extremely concerning circumstance, as there was a 166.7 per cent surge in fatalities, increasing from 21 in 2022 to 56 in 2023.

In addition to the increase in motorcyclist fatalities, there was a 109.1 per cent increase in fatal accidents overall in 2023, compared to 2022.

Most of these accidents occurred between 18:00hrs and 23:59hrs. Private cars were the most common vehicles involved in these fatal accidents, with an increase of 65 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022.

The minister pointed out that the need for targeted measures to improve road safety for motorcyclists becomes evident in the face of this alarming surge.

“We need your help. We want to engage with you in respect to these matters in totality,” he said.

Addressing the crisis head-on, Minister Benn outlined several initiatives, including enhanced driver education, which will see comprehensive programmes to educate drivers on road safety, defensive driving, and sharing road responsibly.

Additionally, in this year’s budget, infrastructural improvements are on the cards with road- design considerations, including dedicated lanes for motorcyclists, proper signage, and well-maintained surfaces.

A substantial sum of $90.6 billion has been allocated in this year’s budget for the security sector, with a focus on technology and new infrastructure for the Joint Services.

In the 2024 national budget presentation, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, highlighted the implementation of a robust road safety- and traffic-management plan, including the development of a new radar system and new laws and regulations.

In addition, he revealed that the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) will be implemented to enhance safety and decrease accidents. Automatic ticketing for speeding and failure to use seatbelts will be introduced later this year, pending legal changes and proper gazetting of road networks.

Last year, the National Assembly passed a regulatory framework for the use of electric bikes. It will address the alarming increase in road fatalities and incidents involving electric bikes.

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

The bill introduced the offence of motor manslaughter, whereby 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.

As part of efforts to improve safety on the country’s roadways, a major overhaul of current laws is presently being conducted, and among the recommendations made thus far is the medical evaluation of drivers’ mental health.

In 2023, the Road Safety Diagnostics and Action Plan was launched, a pivotal component of the Adequate Housing and Urban Transport Programme (AHUTP) funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The objective of the action plan is to ensure that key stakeholders have a comprehensive grasp of the project’s scope and expected timelines for its successful implementation.