Police ‘E’ Division reports minimal fatalities – as Road Safety Month 2015 is celebrated

AS Guyana celebrates Road Safety Month, the Traffic Department of the ‘E’ Division Police (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), has proudly reported only two road fatalities for 2015, compared to six for 2014; and this even though the division has no traffic lights!Statistics for serious accidents which did not involve loss of life are also exemplary, with only one being reported for this year, and two for last year.

Police ‘E’ Division Headquarters are located in Linden, Region 10, and the Sergeant in Charge, Shawn Massay, is proud of this outstanding achievement because it compares well with what has obtained countrywide.

He revealed an intention to continue striving for a reduction in road fatalities in the division under his watch, and is determined not to be complacent as activities for Road Safety Month get underway.

“We have commenced our activities for Road Safety Month 2015, and are preparing for the official launching,” he mentioned. Anticipating a continued good record during this period, the division is determined to have everyone both involved and benefiting from its activities.

Painting of pedestrian crossings around Linden is already underway, as are Road Safety lectures at schools as far away as Kwakwani and Ituni. And schools that do not have pedestrian crossings at their main entrances have patrol officers placed there to guarantee safe crossing for students.

Patrol officers within the division are, moreover, on serious lookout for lorry drivers and night drivers who might be operating while under the influence. In the absence of traffic lights, traffic patrols are being placed at busy locations, such as Republic Avenue, to regulate movement of traffic and pedestrians in an effort to create an accident-free zone in Linden.

‘E’ Division is anticipating a formal launching of Road Safety Month as it continues to keep fatalities off its roadways, and Sergeant Massay is determined to reduce the fatality figure to nil, and is recommending to the relevant authorities that certain measures be implemented to have Linden and Region 10 become fatality-free territory.

“We need better lighting at the One Mile main access road, as is established on the Amelia’s Ward main access road. In Linden, where there is a fog system, the visibility is very poor during the early morning hours, and this can be causation for accidents. In addition to this, the installation of traffic lights at the ‘Five Corner’ area is needed earliest, as the area is normally congested during peak hours,” Murray lamented.

The Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge also needs serious attention, he said, as it is currently operating under a one-lane manual system, which can be deemed unsafe for the users. It is recommended that the bridge be expanded, or another bridge be built to minimise the congestion of users.

‘E’ Division Police are determined to fulfil their mandate to serve and protect persons under their charge.

Road Safety Month is being observed under the theme, “Be wise, stay alive. Stop Speeding, Don’t drink and Drive”; and for the year, more than 100 persons have died in more than 85 road fatalities countrywide.
(Vanessa Braithwaite)

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