–AG tasked with stricter law reform part of aggressive road safety crackdown
With road fatalities continuing to mount, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has signalled a fresh round of legislative action aimed at strengthening traffic enforcement and tightening penalties for dangerous driving.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday, the Head of State confirmed that Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC., has been tasked with preparing additional amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act for Parliament within weeks.
“We had increased the fines and have some of the harshest fines for different traffic offences, drinking and driving and all of these things. The enforcement is a problem, but we’re improving enforcement with the cameras,” President Ali said.
He added that further measures are now under review to address persistent gaps in compliance and enforcement.
“I’ve asked the Attorney General to once again look at what additional measures will be needed, and to ensure that wherever amendments are needed, those amendments will be in place… I’ve asked him to have all of these amendments ready for the Parliament, because these are key and critical,” he stated.
The President underscored that road safety cannot be treated as a minor issue, warning that indiscipline on the road continues to carry deadly consequences.
“We cannot develop a society without care and without attention to these, what some may believe are small details, but very important details, if our society is to be disciplined,” he said.
The push for stronger measures comes against the backdrop of a troubling road safety landscape. For the year so far, more than 30 persons have lost their lives in road accidents across Guyana, with speeding identified as a leading cause in the majority of fatal crashes.
In one of the most recent incidents, brothers Mickel Daniels, 21, and Miguel Daniels, 23, of Prospect, East Bank Demerara, were killed after the car they were travelling in slammed head-on into a minibus along the Union Public Road, West Coast Demerara.
The accident occurred around 05:30 hrs and involved motorcar PAC 9853, driven by 23-year-old Thomas Henry of Moruca, Essequibo River, and a minibus, BWW 4493, operated by a 39-year-old driver of Harlem, West Coast Demerara. Several passengers were injured and remain hospitalised, while police have since launched an investigation.
Despite the fatalities, Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh had reported a 26 per cent decrease in overall accidents compared to the same period last year, attributing the decline to increased enforcement, public education campaigns, and the rollout of the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS).
MANDATORY PENALTIES, NO DISCRETION
However, the President’s latest intervention signals that enforcement alone is not enough. The administration is now moving to close legislative loopholes, strengthen deterrence, and reinforce a culture of accountability on the nation’s roadways.
A key pillar of the reforms is the expansion of ticketable offences and the introduction of stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act
As of April 1, 2026, full enforcement of new vehicle tint regulations is in effect, with a standard fine of $30,000 for non-compliance. The law mandates that front side windows allow 25 per cent light, while rear windows and the windscreen must allow 20 per cent.
Authorities have also introduced an online tint waiver system to facilitate exemptions for diplomats and approved security personnel.
Speeding penalties have been significantly increased, with extreme cases now attracting fines of up to $200,000, alongside demerit points. Third-lane violations are also being aggressively targeted, with offenders facing court prosecution and fines reaching $150,000.
Other common offences, including driving an uncertified vehicle and failing to produce a driver’s licence, carry fines of $5,000, while seatbelt violations are now being enforced through camera systems.
Beyond fines, new legislative changes are removing judicial discretion for serious traffic offences, particularly driving under the influence (DUI).
Under the updated framework, a first DUI offence carries a minimum fine of $200,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment, while repeat offenders face at least $300,000 in fines and mandatory jail time. Convictions now also result in an automatic 12-month suspension of a driver’s licence.
Back in 2022, the new offence of motor manslaughter was introduced for deaths caused by reckless or impaired driving, significantly increasing potential custodial sentences.
The expanded demerit point system further tightens compliance, with accumulated violations leading to automatic licence suspension once thresholds are met.
Under SRIS, more than 1,000 smart cameras are now operational across the country, detecting violations such as speeding and seatbelt breaches in real time. Tickets are automatically generated and issued via SMS or email to vehicle owners, effectively removing the need for physical police intervention.
