MORE than 4,000 traffic violations were recorded across Guyana during a week-long enforcement exercise by the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department, with speeding, helmet-related offences and driving under the influence among the most common breaches detected.
According to figures released for the period March 8 to March 14, a total of 4,295 cases were documented by traffic ranks as authorities intensified efforts to promote road safety and enforce compliance with the country’s traffic laws.
The statistics show that speeding accounted for the highest number of violations, with 1,821 cases recorded during the period. Other offences included 116 seatbelt violations, 114 cases of motorcyclists failing to wear safety helmets and 42 instances of riders carrying pillion passengers without helmets.
Police also recorded 42 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol, 145 instances of motorists leaving vehicles in dangerous positions and 73 cases involving breaches of prescribed fitness conditions for vehicles.
Additional offences included 39 cases of unlicensed driving, 24 breaches of traffic light signals, 23 cases of faulty packing and a combined 164 incidents involving unlighted vehicles—76 with defective front lights and 88 with defective rear lights. Six cases involving tinted motor vehicles were also reported.
When contacted for a comment Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mahendra Singh, said the increase in speeding, helmet-related offences and driving under the influence reflects the department’s intensified enforcement operations across the country.
He stressed that road safety ultimately depends on responsible behaviour by all road users.
“No one has to die in an accident if everyone complies with the law,” Singh said, urging motorists to practise the “five Cs” of defensive driving and remain mindful that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists share the nation’s roadways.
As part of its broader road safety campaign, the Traffic Department also conducted a series of educational outreaches during the week. Officers delivered road safety lectures at several schools, including Patentia Primary and Zeelugt Primary in Region Three, Wineperu Primary and Agatash Primary in Region Seven, North West Secondary and Port Kaituma Secondary in Region One, and Kumu Primary and Kumu Nursery in Region Nine. Additional sessions were held at St. Lawrence Nursery and Parfaite Harmonie Primary, while Timehri Nursery and Timehri Primary in Region Four also benefitted from the programme.
Public awareness activities extended beyond schools, with officers engaging drivers, community members and patrons at various locations including police stations, public roads and commercial areas such as Meadow Bank, Nelson Mandela Avenue, Independence Boulevard, Seawall Road and Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling Road.
Outreach efforts also reached communities in interior and hinterland regions, including Aishalton, Quiko Village and the Mabaruma district, while engagements were conducted at several bars and public venues as part of efforts to discourage drunk driving.
Police officials say the combined enforcement and education initiatives form part of ongoing measures to improve road safety and reduce traffic-related incidents across the country. Singh warned that careless or dangerous driving can have devastating consequences and urged motorists to exercise caution at all times on the nation’s roads.