IN a bid to enhance road safety and accountability, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has urged the public to take legal action against errant drivers who violate traffic laws and endanger lives, especially in cases that result in deaths of road users.

The Attorney General’s remarks, made during a press briefing on Saturday, highlighted the government’s commitment to improving road safety and ensuring that individuals who flout the law face the consequences of their actions.
Nandlall emphasised that while the government and law-enforcement agencies have an important role to play in curbing reckless driving, the public must also take responsibility in addressing these issues. He urged the relatives of those killed in road accidents, as well as survivors, to file legal proceedings for compensation in the High Court.

While some individuals do pursue this avenue, Nandlall noted that it should be done more frequently. “So, people have to do it more often. You’ve got to sue for compensation, and when people begin to lose their homes and so on, then perhaps we may think differently.”
The Attorney General emphasised that the good thing about the civil-proceedings process now is the increased efficiency with which cases are being heard and decided, particularly in the High Court.

He said unlike in the past when cases could drag on for about 10 years, a case can now be heard and determined within two years. According to him, this was a result of hard work in reducing the backlog through the implementation of new rules, the appointment of additional judges and the introduction of the e-filing system. Improvement in these aspects, according to Nandlall, marked significant progress in hastening litigation and improving efficiency within the justice system.

He stressed the importance of a cultural shift to make drinking and driving socially unacceptable, following the example of other countries. He called on all stakeholders, including the judiciary, to play their part, urging the judiciary to impose sanctions that effectively serve as deterrents.

The government has undertaken a raft of measures that are significant in the face of increasing road carnage to make the roads safe again. Among these initiatives is the amendment to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, introducing for the first time the offence of motor manslaughter. On top of the new offence, the government has increased fines and prison terms for various traffic violations, such as driving under the influence and dangerous driving.

In addition to this, the government has made bar owners accountable for serving a person who is already intoxicated. Another serious step taken to increase road safety and to penalise traffic offenders was the installation of traffic cameras on major highways within Guyana.

The cameras monitor and record traffic violations, including speeding, running red lights, distracted driving and failure to wear seatbelts, among other unsafe driving behaviours.
There is also the e-ticketing system aimed at addressing increasing traffic violations.