Traffic Chief cautions interior drivers after more fatalities

ANGELA Lawrence, 35, of Mabaruma, was killed and three others injured when the driver of a motor lorry, in which they were, lost control of the vehicle and it toppled at Long Hill on Tuesday.

altThe woman, who had been in the cab of GPP 5582, was pinned beneath it, and was later, pronounced dead on arrival at Matthews Ridge Hospital.
Police said the accident, that took place about 16:00 hrs, happened as the vehicle was transporting rations and passengers.
The surviving injured persons, 15-year-old Mark Allen, of Port Kaituma; 18-year-old Eon Williams of Moruca and 45-year-old Bonny Byer, also resident in North West District, were air-dashed to the city for medical attention.
The driver is in police custody assisting with the investigations.
It was the second fatal accident in the interior within days, after four persons were killed and several others hurt when the truck in which they were rolled down a hill and ended up in a gully at Buck Hall.
Traffic Chief Hugh Denhert, noting the rough terrain in those areas, said drivers of heavy duty vehicles should desist from loading them to maximum capacity and conveying passengers in the tray, as that has proved deadly.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that, when such a vehicle is overloaded, it becomes difficult to control and that should be taken into consideration.

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In the wake of the constant road fatalities countrywide, speeding, coupled with drinking and driving, inattentiveness and drivers’ distraction are the leading contributors.
He added that traffic accidents and fatalities continue to be of concern to the Guyana Police Force (GPF),  given the fact that most times they occur in the early morning hours when there is light or no traffic at all, indicating that drivers are, often, under the influence and act in a callous manner on the roadways.
Superintendent Denhert said drivers should, at all times, operate with due caution since it was noted that the attitude and culture of some, driving hire cars and minibuses, leave much to be desired, the way they drive almost recklessly on the roadways.
He said change is required and urged all drivers to be more courteous.
The Traffic Chief, giving statistics, said for this year, so far, there were 32 fatalities from 29 road accidents, as compared to 24 fatalities from 23 accidents for the same period last year.
Alluding to the New Hope, East Bank Demerara last Thursday morning accident, in which two persons died and a young woman suffered injuries, he said speeding was involved and the unlicensed driver lost control of the motor car.
The GPF reported that there has been an increase of six road fatalities at the end of March, in comparison with the same time in 2012, with 28 fatalities from 26 accidents in 2013 compared to 22 fatalities from 21 accidents in 2012. The period January 1 to March 31, 2013, saw a reduction in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents.
Up to now, motorcyclists have been the main road users affected, with seven such persons having lost their lives by the end of March 2013. In addition, six pedestrians, six pedal cyclists, five drivers and four passengers of motor vehicles also died.
The report said speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 21 of the 26 fatal accidents recorded at the end of March 2013.         Traffic enforcement by the police during the period January to March 2013 resulted in a total of 21,943 cases being made against errant motorists and, of that total, 5,836  were for speeding.
Three road fatalities have been recorded, from two accidents, for the month of April 2013.

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