–calls on road users to change their attitude

EFFORTS are being made to tackle the rising number of traffic offences in the country. On Friday, the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, contemplated increasing traffic fines by a minimum of three times their current value.  At the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Minister Benn emphasised the government’s unwavering commitment to road safety during the launch of the Road Safety Stakeholders’ Forum 2024 and Road Safety Campaign. The proposed measures are deemed necessary to tackle the reckless behaviour displayed by certain drivers.

Minister Benn emphasised that the need to increase fines has been compelled by concerning traffic data, which is not being taken lightly. He noted that the number of traffic accidents in the nation has significantly increased in the last year alone, with many of them being fatal.
“Most of the accidents and the fatalities resulting are in the younger cohort of our population; mostly young men. And of course, there are others too who are impacted directly…vicariously by the attitude and practice of persons who are driving vehicles.
“It is true to say that it is the inappropriate, reckless adult behaviour, particularly by men which has brought us to this continuing problem. Much of the speeding comes from young men and middle age men parked up outside of bars late in the evening,” the official stated firmly.

Serious accidents happen on the extended weekend, which runs from Friday to Monday, and in the evening, according to Minister Benn. He noted that as a result, the government and relevant stakeholders must act to address the issue that the statistics point to.
“We have lots of statistics. These are statistics which are dreadful. Last year was a particularly dreadful year. In 2021 and 2022, for the first time in decades, we had knocked down road traffic deaths below 100 per year and then we jumped last year, to 179 deaths.” Guyana is currently rated 63rd in the world in terms of road traffic mortality, according to the home affairs minister.

Road traffic injuries are currently projected to be the eighth main cause of death worldwide across all age groups.  He added: “We are on a trend intending to do better this year and hopefully to get below 100 deaths this year. But it requires paying attention to the statistics and taking the disciplined, measured response to move the statistics in the right direction.”
He said that the government has been making significant investments in the infrastructure of roads. He did point out that since 2020, there have been three times as many vehicles on the road. He said that there were approximately 5,699 vehicles in 2020, but that figure has increased to over 15,000, with most categories seeing triple increases in vehicle counts.

Minister Benn opined that people think they can speed and get away with it because they bribe the police and do not show up for court when they are charged.
“It is my view that we should increase the traffic fines by three times. It is our intention to put in place the requisite technology and the tracking of cases at the courts and other places with the effort of the Guyana Police Force to ensure that we make those people who continue to be reckless and dangerous on the road, that they must pay the requisite fines and sanctions. They could afford it. So, there is no use we have billions of dollars in unpaid fines…” He believes that increasing traffic fines by at least three times will bring the situation under control.

As Guyana works in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 with an aim to cut traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030, the minister of home affairs has called on everyone to join the efforts to battle traffic accidents.
“So, by 2030, the deaths on the road in Guyana should be less than 50,” Minister Benn said.