— Jagdeo says a balanced approach to be taken in review of speed limits
WHILE stressing the importance of road safety, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has stated that a balanced approach will be taken in the review of speed limits.
Jagdeo, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice President, made these remarks during a recent press conference at Freedom House.
“I spoke of a balance approach…The technical work has to be done too, because you have to look at the size of the highway, the condition of the highway, all of these things before you recommend a figure,” he said.
The Vice-President noted that the Traffic Department will lead the review, while President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who has expressed serious concern over road safety, has been working alongside a team on the issue.
“So, I suspect all the agencies will be working together to come up with this figure -the speed limit. But it would have to be taken into consideration two things.
“You don’t want it to be at a level that is so low that people will be ticketed for driving at a ridiculously slow level, like some of the limits are on the highway. But at the same time, you have the counterpart. We have had people who lost their lives because of speeding. So, it’s the balance that you [have to] strike there,” Jagdeo stated.
Notably, Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh, had stated that the Safe Road Intelligent System is crucial in ensuring safer roadways and that drivers who violate speed limits are swiftly and effectively penalised.
President Ali has unveiled an ambitious plan in ensuring the road ways are safer, and the Safe Road Intelligent System is one component of the plan.
During a recent public meeting at New Amsterdam, President Ali told residents that his government was working to achieve a disciplined society.
Earlier this month, representatives from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) officially launched the distribution process for automated e-tickets.
This is in alignment with the recent amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. Speed cameras have been installed across the country to capture vehicles exceeding speed limits and these violations will now result in an automated ticket being issued to the respective vehicle owners.
Also, motor vehicle owners are reminded to ensure their contact details—such as phone numbers and email addresses—are updated with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
This will enable immediate notification of any violations. Payments for the tickets can be made conveniently via MMG services across the country, using the ticket number provided.
In addition, the GPF has launched a new online service to help vehicle owners track their tickets.
By visiting the GPF’s official website, guyanapoliceforce.gy, individuals can easily check the status of any tickets issued against their vehicles. The government and law enforcement agencies are committed to improving road safety and ensuring that everyone follows the rules of the road.
Authorities continue to highlight that road safety is a shared responsibility, urging all road users to “do the right thing” for the safety of themselves and others.
The rollout of the automated ticketing system represents a key step in modernising traffic enforcement in Guyana with an aim to reduce speeding and improve overall traffic safety.
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