-radar guns successful
‘B’ Division Traffic Chief Owen Trotz says road fatalities are down by more than fifty percent, with 19 deaths recorded from a similar number of fatal accidents this year, in comparison to 35 fatal accidents with 41 deaths during the corresponding period last year.
Two children were among the fatalities for the year, while seven children were among those who lost their lives in 2007.
Trotz was at the time addressing schoolchildren from the various schools in Region Five at a Road Safety Rally.
Traffic Chief, Owen Trotz (left), Assistant Traffic Chief, Brian Mc Kenzie and vice-chairman KP Deokarran(centre) taking the salute as the students marched during the rally.
He gave credit to the reduction of the road fatalities for this year to the national ‘Operation Safeway’ campaign in which traffic officers are placed at various locations along the road with radar guns to curb speeding.
Trotz, who took over from the former Traffic Chief John Daniels in April, told Stabroek News that he found the campaign effective and he intends to continue it. He advised the students as well as pedal cyclists to use the road with care at all times and to observe the curb drill. The traffic chief also asked drivers to obey the five ‘Cs’ at all times.
In his remarks, Regional Vice-Chairman KP Deokarran said his biggest concern in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) is that “children are all over the road after school.” He asked that police officers check the areas after school to ensure that students did not linger on the road and for parents to encourage their children to go home early.
The rally, which was held at the Fort Wellington Secondary School, was part of the activities in Berbice to mark Road Safety Week. It was chaired by former Regional Education Officer Randolph Mitchell.
The students marched from the Fort Wellington Hospital to the venue, chanting the theme: “Be Wise, Practice Road Safety and Stay Alive” with Trotz, Assistant Traffic Chief, Brian McKenzie and Deokarran taking the salute.
Trotz told this newspaper that other activities that have been completed so far include an inter-faith service on Sunday and a road safety lecture to schoolchildren on the Corentyne on Monday.
On Friday there would be a mini exhibition for schoolchildren in Region Six and on Saturday a special traffic exercise for speeding would be conducted.
The reason for the activities, Trotz said, is “to sensitize all categories of road users” about using the road safely.
All over the country has to follow the example of the Berbice road death plunge, thus saving our precious human resources. Too many lives are snuffed by careless drivers. A new approach to mini-bus driving has to be implemented.
We all agree speeding is bad, and saving lives is good. The speed limit on the highways (roads) however is ridiculous. There is practically no way to go from g/t to Corentyne without getting slammed with a ticket. ($7500). It looks more like entrapment than control.
As a Berbician and overseas base Guynese i am so proud of the police officers in the B Division for a work well done to ensure that Berbice road accident death kept on the low and also congrats to the drivers for the part played in this also in the manner they drive and used the road with cautions.
glaad to see a reduction in the stats,, but what about the strays (animals) on the corentyne high way,,, lots more lives can be save ……..