WITH Guyana still grappling with the devastating impact of road fatalities, 2024 marks a critical turning pointing. Though 2023 was one of the deadliest years for road fatalities, there are now signs of progress.
Last year, 178 people lost their lives on the nation’s roads—a staggering toll largely tied to reckless behaviours among drivers, especially those aged 25 to 42.

Comparative data from January 1 to November 2, 2024, shows a 30 per cent decrease in road fatalities compared to the same period in 2023, with the number of lives lost dropping from 145 to 102.
Research Officer Michele Baptiste from the Ministry of Home Affairs shared this data at the launch of National Road Safety Month 2024 on Monday, held at the Leonora Track and Field Centre.

It is being observed under the powerful theme, “Do the Right Thing.” For male fatalities, the numbers show a promising 25 per cent decrease, with fatalities dropping from 122 in 2023 to 91 in 2024. The age group 25-42, which has often seen high casualty rates, showed even greater progress, with a 49 per cent reduction in lives lost, from 55 down to 45.

According to her, motorcyclists are still among the most at-risk, followed closely by pedestrians. Notably, fatalities among motorcyclists have fallen by 15 per cent from 48 in 2023 to 41 in 2024.
Fatalities among pedestrians also declined, with a 30 per cent reduction—down to 26 lives lost in 2024 from 37 the previous year.  “Strikingly, for each year over the period, speeding is identified as the leading cause of fatal accidents, accounting for 70 per cent of the lives loss,” said Baptiste.

Private cars, which have consistently led in fatal accidents, saw an 18 per cent drop in involvement, from 55 in 2023 incidents to 45 this year. She said that many fatal accidents continue to occur during extended weekends, from Friday to Monday, and predominantly in the evenings. She added: “It was observed that 67 per cent of fatal accidents occur over the extended weekend, i.e. (that is), Friday to Monday from 18:01 hours through midnight. We have observed that persons are more relaxed and engaged in the consumption of alcohol and various types of drugs to unwind after work and to enjoy the weekend which led drivers and motorists to operate carelessly on the roads.”
Despite these positive trends, Baptiste stressed the underlying issues, pointing to reckless behaviours as ongoing concerns.

“We are calling on everyone to do your part and do the right thing. I would like to encourage all drivers to stop speeding and driving carelessly on our roads. Pedestrians must focus when they are on the roads. If we all do the right thing it will help to reduce road accidents and deaths. Let us all do the right thing.”

She urged everyone to remain cautious, urging the public to reject common, deadly behaviours like speeding, driving under the influence, and driving while distracted. One of the key obstacles, she noted, is an ingrained habit of aggressive driving among both motorists and motorcyclists. The lack of helmet use among motorcyclists only compounds the risk. “We need to adhere to the speed limits. It is not cool to ride without a helmet. I want to implore you to always wear a helmet. It may save your live if you encounter an accident…”

From 2014 to November 2, 2024, she explained there have been 1,210 fatal accidents, resulting in the loss of 1,370 lives. Each year during this period, male fatalities were significantly higher than female fatalities. Males accounted for 83 per cent of the total lives lost—1,135 out of 1,370. In contrast, females represented 17 per cent, or 234 out of the 1,370 lives lost. She pointed out that these numbers are not just statistics; each one represents a person who was loved and valued. “And each loss resonated throughout families and communities across the country.”

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 authorities have called on everyone to join the efforts to battle traffic accidents.