–police working ‘overtime’ to deal with rise in road accidents
–reviewing certification process for drivers, Top Cop says

By Feona Morrison
“ONE death is too many,” Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, said as he addressed the alarming rise in road accidents.
In response to this carnage, he said police officers across the country have been working overtime to manage and mitigate the situation.
Hicken made this disclosure recently while delivering remarks at the launch of the Road Safety Stakeholders’ Forum 2024 and Road Safety Campaign.

In his presentation of data, he pointed out that from January to July of 2023, there were 74 accidents that resulted in 84 deaths, as opposed to 56 fatal accidents that occurred over the same period this year and led to 67 deaths.
Better and broader roads are a sign that Guyana is on the verge of growth, and he said that it was critical that the most valuable resource—humans—continue to use the roadways responsibly.
“The main idea of being responsible can keep you alive and keep your colleagues alive. Your irresponsible behaviour can not only injure you, but can kill or maim the most important human resource,” Hicken said.
Many of these accidents, according to police reports, involve speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and distracted driving, often due to the use of mobile devices.
He said that a loss of human resources could lead to a reduction in the population and development of the nation. He made it clear that the police have not idly stood by while the carnage on the roads continued.
“We’ve had visibility patrols mounted by day and by night. The policemen are working overtime,” Hicken said.

Importantly, he related that the government has been aiding the police’s work, referencing the traffic ticket system which is in the advanced stage of completion.
In response to the recent spike in road accidents, the acting Police Commissioner announced plans to review the driver certification process.
The senior command of the police force will meet this week for talks in this regard. Commissioner Hicken said that stricter evaluations were necessary to ensure competent drivers and roadworthy vehicles.
“And so, for a man to be certified having had his licence…we’re not going to look at the competency of the drivers only. We want to delve in to ensure that the vehicle is adequately roadworthy. People tend to look at a tire and take things for granted. If we are not certifying our vehicles in its entirety that can contribute to carnage on the road,” Hicken said.

Further, he related that proper road signage and the integration of advanced technology are essential tools in creating safer roads and reducing the frequency and severity of accidents.
“In the absence of signage, one can lose their way and run into the path of another vehicle creating an accident,” Hicken reasoned.
Following the decentralisation of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), he related that road safety seminars have been conducted in schools and communities in association with the police force and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Despite the existence of a traffic court, he emphasised that the issue of offenders not paying fines still remains a significant problem.
He added: “The enforcement in terms of paying the fines that is a work in progress in linking the technology so that we can do checks and balances…”
In addition, Hicken disclosed that the Attorney General’s Chambers is revising traffic laws and rules because: “Punishment must be commensurate with the actions of these irresponsible drivers.”
He called on the public, including the business community, to play its part in ensuring road safety, even though he believes that the police traffic management strategy could lessen the carnage on the roadways.