-as government seeks to address road fatalities

-President Ali says

IN 2023, Guyana recorded a 76.8 per cent increase in road fatalities, and as of May this year the country recorded 78 fatal accidents and to address these alarming occurrences, the government of Guyana will be expending many more resources on public education and greater enforcement.
This was disclosed by President Dr, Irfaan Ali during a recent press conference where he highlighted several strategic policies implemented by the government to address road fatalities across the country.
However, the Head of State highlighted that there is still a greater need for public awareness.

“I think we all have a responsibility when it comes to the accidents on the road, the media and every one of us: first, to educate people; second, to ensure that we all do what is right,” the President said.
According to the President, the recorded figures for this year have shown a 30 per cent decrease in fatal accidents; however, this “is still too much, far too much.”
In 2022, the National Assembly had passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill.

The amendments also provided for shared responsibility. This change allows for bar owners to also be held accountable in the instance of an accident, once aware they should not serve individuals who are operating motor vehicles.  And, if found culpable, they can be charged.
The passage of the bill saw the charge of motor manslaughter being introduced. This will see a person who causes the death of another by driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs being charged with motor manslaughter.
There are also harsher penalties for the charge of causing grievous bodily harm while driving under the influence of alcohol or a drug.
Previously, the penalty was a fine between $30,000 and $60,000, or 12 years in prison. The new legislation introduces a $200,000 fine for first-time offenders and no less than $300,000 for repeat offenders. The Bill also states that persons convicted under this section will be prohibited from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months.

Additionally, the fine for driving or attempting to drive while blood alcohol levels exceed the prescribed limit has been moved from $7,500 to $200,000.
Meanwhile, President Ali disclosed that the government is inching closer to establishing its electronic ticketing system to remove human biases on the roadways.
“We are now moving the technology where we have the electronic ticketing system to remove the human biases for speeding. We have enacted the law to make that legal. So, there’s a connection now between the electronic system GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority] , the police and the court.
“We’re going to spend more resources on public education, greater enforcement, the proactive use of the CCTV for monitoring, of the roadways.” he added.

Concurrently he noted that government is expanding and rehabilitating all major throughways as it is critical to have adequate infrastructure to match the massive influx of vehicular traffic.
“One of the consequences of the expansion [that] is taking place is that we have all of [these] new vehicles. I mean, we are looking up at [a] five-fold increase in vehicle registration …we are building all these new highways and new roads to accommodate the type of development that is taking place and to disperse and distribute the traffic in a more strategic way. That will help us in terms of what is occurring on the roadways,” the President explained.