rising road accidents spur enhanced enforcement actions

By Feona Morrison

IN recent weeks, a dark shadow has fallen over Guyana’s roadways—an alarming spike in road accidents.

The situation has grown dreadful, with daily reports of collisions, injuries, and tragically, fatalities. The recent spate of accidents has left families grieving and has underscored the critical need for immediate intervention.
Reports from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) show that there has been a noticeable uptick in accidents involving speeding, drunk driving, and reckless behaviour.
In response, the Police Traffic Department is aggressively pursuing efforts to curb this surge and restore safety on the roads, Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh, has assured.
When contacted by the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, he provided a detailed account of the extensive measures being implemented to address this alarming trend, along with the challenges encountered.
According to him, the police handle traffic management and enforcement on a daily basis.

The primary focus of these efforts is to monitor and apprehend drivers who engage in speeding, drunk driving, and other hazardous behaviours.
He said that the police use their available resources to conduct targeted enforcement every day, in addition to deploying foot and vehicle patrols.
“We analyse where these accidents are more prevalent. And what are some of the contributing factors, apart from the drivers’ actions…” The absence of road signs, markings, and lighting are among the contributing factors, according to the Traffic Chief. He declared that a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Works and the police would be initiated to address this issue, should it be identified.

Singh explained that one of the most effective tools in the police’s arsenal was technology, alluding to the state-of-the-art 24-hour surveillance cameras on major roadways in Georgetown.
Earlier this month, Parliament approved amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act to allow for the use of the cameras. In order to facilitate the application of this new law, traffic lights will be equipped with road-intelligent camera systems.

The police will oversee the system. Vehicles breaking seatbelt and speeding regulations will be photographed.  Following that, a notice of the fine and the photo will be mailed to the address of the vehicle’s owner and forwarded to their mobile phone number.
Currently, the cameras are situated along Mandela Avenue, connecting Georgetown to Eccles on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) highway. Singh stated that due to the accessibility of advanced technology, law enforcement now has the ability to monitor ongoing events in real-time, enhancing their accident-investigation capabilities. Once this project is replicated nationwide, road users will no longer be able to allege bias by the police.
“Technology is now supporting the prosecution of traffic offenders. It will help persons to be more compliant, to use the road more safely and to observe the rules of the road and to support shared space with other road users,” he added.
Nevertheless, he underscored the importance of complementing this technology with traffic- calming measures such as speed humps and speed bumps, which employ distinct methods to reduce traffic speed.
The implementation of advanced technology has yielded favourable outcomes, facilitating ongoing surveillance and resulting in a substantial decrease in both traffic infractions and accidents. Furthermore, these cameras have played a crucial role in the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of wrongdoers.

All year round, the police carry out robust public awareness campaigns to educate road users about road safety. The campaign includes outreaches to schools, bars, bus/car parks, and communities and the distribution of educational materials and helmets.
“Community relations is a big thing for us,” the Traffic Chief noted. “We target school-aged people. On the road, we target the drivers of all classes of vehicles and we even go [to] the bars.”

According to the Traffic Chief, law enforcement will make visits to bars to emphasise to the owners the prohibition on serving alcohol to individuals under the legal drinking age of 18 or those who are intoxicated.
He mentioned their intention to educate patrons of bars about the hazards associated with driving under the influence.
The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022 mandates liquor licence holders, among other obligations, to refrain from selling, providing, or exchanging intoxicating liquor to an intoxicated individual.
In the early hours of Monday, a devastating accident occurred at Kiltern Public Road in Corentyne, Berbice, resulting in the tragic death of an 18-year-old woman and severe injuries sustained by her 24-year-old husband.
The speeding car, PAF 6330, was being driven by the husband who was suspected to be intoxicated. The car collided with a parked crane before landing in a nearby canal.
On Sunday, 16-year-old Julio Joseph of Pomona Housing Scheme, Region Two, lost his life after the driver of the vehicle he was in lost control and crashed into the concrete fence of a private residence at Fairfield, Region Two.
The 20-year-old driver is hospitalised with life-threatening injuries.