THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has established dedicated road safety desks in every police division across the country as part of efforts to strengthen public engagement and reduce road fatalities.
The announcement was made by Inspector Richard Trotz of the Traffic Education Department during the Road Safety & You programme, where he said the initiative was introduced under the direction of Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken and Traffic Chief, Mahendra Singh.
According to Trotz, the desks have been set up in every police division from Region One to Region Ten to provide members of the public with easier access to traffic-related services and information.
He explained that residents can visit the desks to seek assistance, report traffic concerns and obtain information on road safety matters.
“Members of the public who have concerns, who need information, who need help as it relates to traffic issues that they may have, they can visit the nearest police station where a traffic desk has been set up,” Trotz said.
Each desk will also feature a suggestion box, allowing members of the public to submit complaints, recommendations or concerns anonymously if they wish.
Trotz said the initiative was introduced in response to concerns that some citizens may have felt their complaints were not reaching the Traffic Department.
He said, “We are here to help members of the public. Every concern that is out there as it relates to traffic; we want them to tell us so we can be able to help.”
He said public participation will be key to reducing road deaths, stressing that road safety cannot be achieved through enforcement alone.
“Every life lost on our roads is too many,” he said, urging citizens to report hazards and unsafe practices before they contribute to serious crashes.
The inspector said the new desks complement broader efforts by the Traffic Department and the Guyana National Road Safety Council to modernise road safety reporting through technology.
Among those initiatives is a new online reporting portal that allows citizens to anonymously report accidents, road hazards and other traffic-related issues, which authorities intend to link with agencies responsible for removing obstructions and addressing safety concerns.
Trotz said the police hope the combined initiatives will improve communication with the public and contribute to changing road user behaviour as authorities continue their campaign to reduce traffic fatalities.
According to Trotz, the initiative is still in its early stages and will continue to expand, with additional contact information, personnel and services to be introduced as the programme develops.
He explained that the initiative forms part of a broader effort to improve road safety through greater public participation.
According to Trotz, information received through the desks, together with reports submitted via the Guyana National Road Safety Council’s online reporting platform, will help authorities identify recurring traffic issues and respond more effectively.
He maintained that reducing road deaths requires co-operation between law enforcement and the public.