THE Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) has highlighted that drunk driving, inattentiveness, speeding and bad use of the roads remain the leading contributors of road accidents, including fatalities.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department, Eve Leary, reported that this year they recorded 106 accidents with 115 deaths, including 14 children while for the corresponding period last year they had 80 accidents with 86 deaths, including nine children.

Traffic Headquarters added that in the categories of road users killed are: towing on bicycle – one, pedestrains – 51, passengers in motor cars – 11, motorcycles – 21, pedal cyclists – 16, drivers of motor buses – 11 and occupants of motor lorries – 3.

During the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) press conference last Friday, the Chairman, Dennis Pompey urged all road users to play their roles while using the roadways, adding that drivers between the ages of 25-35 are more prone to fatal accidents which ultimately result in the loss of lives.

He stated that “the loss of one life on our roads is too much and we could ill afford any more victims of road accidents.” Therefore, he encouraged drivers to have a designated driver when imbibing or to park and make alternative arrangements to go to their destinations.

Pompey said that drunk driving is serious and has equally serious consequences once you decide to get behind the wheel and drive while intoxicated.

Early Tuesday morning 26-year-old Gavin Bachan, of 181 Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara was killed when he lost control of his speeding motorcar PNN 7981 which slammed into the metal guard rail at Clive Lloyd Drive, in the vicinity of Celina Resort.

It was reported that the young man was on his way home after a bout of drinking in observance of his birthday which was the same day he was killed.

Police said the accident occurred at about 03:30hrs on November 4, 2014 when Bachan was allegedly driving a motor car at a fast rate and lost control of the vehicle, colliding with a metal guard rail.
He received injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC.