THUS far this year, Guyana has seen a significant 30 percent reduction in road fatalities, a remarkable achievement compared to what obtained for the corresponding period last year. Up to the end of July, the Guyana Police Force recorded 51 road fatalities, compared to 73 for the same period in 2011. The year also continues to see reductions in other categories of traffic accidents involving serious and minor ones.
Most of the victims of road fatalities are pedestrians, with 14 losing their lives so far this year. Twelve pedal cyclists and 12 drivers of motor vehicles also lost their lives up to July. Speeding and reckless driving continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, and has caused 35 of the 49 fatal accidents this year.
Too often, drivers get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances, resulting in speeding.
Road accidents constitute the leading cause of death of persons under the age of 18, and statistics from 2010 reveal that over 1,377 persons were killed in fatal accidents over the last 10 years.
Last year, the country witnessed an increasing number of road fatalities; as such, government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has spared no effort in devising initiatives in a relentless bid to raise awareness of the importance of proper road use.
The Police, too, have upped the ante with regard to enforcement, and this resulted, thus far for this year, in 39,312 cases being made against errant motorists, of which 9,162 were for speeding.
In 2010, Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, piloted several comprehensive pieces of legislation, which gave ranks of the force’s Traffic Department, the legal traction to function effectively.
For years, the issue of animals on the roadways, particularly in rural areas, has been a sore matter that resulted in many fatal accidents. As such, in April 2010, government passed an amendment to the Pounds Act to increase the fee paid to a stray catcher or any other person, from $1000 to $5000 for every animal he takes to the pound.
This paved the way for the establishment of a Stray Catcher Unit; but prior to this, in 2009, the Home Affairs Ministry built and rehabilitated 17 animal pounds across Guyana, at the cost of $13.2M.
However, one of the major difficulties hindering the successful implementation of this initiative is the unavailability of persons to take up positions as stray catchers in certain areas. Nevertheless, this unit has to date removed thousands of animals from the roadways.
The introduction of the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) regulation is perhaps one of the major interventions by government to curb recklessness on the roadways. This was complemented by the use of the breathalyzer, seat belt, radar gun, and more recently, an amendment to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act to provide for the appointment of traffic wardens.
Several objectives are also outlined in the Guyana Police Force Strategic Plan 2011-2015 including legislation to ensure that additional traffic offences are dealt with by tickets, and review of existing traffic legislation, thus aiming at reducing the overall number of road accidents, particularly those caused by speeding and drunk driving.
Additionally, through the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), the Home Affairs Ministry has established road safety committees in the various police divisions across the country; the establishment of which in turn, leads to the formation of road safety associations. Recommendations made at these associations, once found to be feasible, will be forwarded to the NRSC to inform policy-making.
Moreover, Government has, over the years, worked toward better road infrastructure across the country. This includes proper signage and installation of street lights at all the major hubs.
In May, 2010, Guyana joined other countries in observing the Global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020, a United Nations’ endorsed global initiative that highlights the growing impact of traffic injuries and deaths, and the need to strengthen prevention and control measures.