GUYANA’S historic launch of the automated speed-ticketing system on April 7 will be a milestone in the road safety strategy of the country.
The initiative, under the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) project, is a forward-thinking solution to the appalling rate of speeding fatalities and injuries. By utilising the latest technology, the government is not only addressing a matter of public safety, but also creating a blueprint for the application of innovation to save lives.

Speeding has also been one of the top causes of Guyanese road accidents, driven by the rapid development of highways and traffic. The mind-boggling statistics, more than 60,000 speeding events caught by smart cameras within a single year, are proof of the urgency for intervention.
Driven by radar speed signs and cloud-based cameras, the automatic system ensures equitable and consistent enforcement. By removing human judgment from the equation, it removes corruption or bias, and makes sure that all violations are treated the same.

This is a preventive, not punitive, effort. Information gathered will enable the authorities to analyse traffic patterns and create targetted action to combat threats. Moreover, marrying enforcement with technology is part of a broader initiative to modernise public safety infrastructure.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali rightly noted that while Guyana’s infrastructure is being upgraded, its infrastructure for accountability and protection must also step up.

Perhaps the most admirable feature of this system is its ease for drivers. With fines being paid through sites such as MMG and soon through the GRA’s “Padna” app, motorists can pay for their violations easily.
Furthermore, the government’s proposed public campaign shows that it realises that education is just as important as enforcement in ensuring compliance.

Critics may argue that the systems would disproportionately affect some groups, or are more interested in earning money than in real safety requirements. These concerns are, however, mitigated by the equitability and transparency present in the system’s design.
The infractions could be appealed in court, where all drivers are given due process. Furthermore, the government has emphasised that the measure is not about penalizing, but about creating safer roads for everyone.

Finally, its success will depend on public tolerance and ongoing enforcement. Technology may punish and monitor, but cannot replace personal responsibility at the wheel. Personal watchfulness and compliance with traffic regulations remain an integral part of road safety, as Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh has aptly stressed.