Road fatalities this year have already surpassed last year’s tally with 109 persons dying on the roadways to date compared to 104 for the same period last year, the police say.
Out of these 17 are children, compared to four for the corresponding period in 2008. In statistics released by the Guyana Police Force yesterday, it was revealed that there were 90 fatal accidents this year compared to 92 for the corresponding period last year.
The figures show that 39 pedestrians were killed, 16 occupants in cars, 16 pedal cyclists, 14 motor cyclists, 12 drivers and eight passengers in mini-buses. In addition one pillion rider, one occupant of a lorry/van, one person who was being towed on a bicycle and one horse jockey were killed.
Speeding was the major cause of fatal accidents with 53 cases, followed by unattentiveness with 15 cases. Other causes include crossing the roadway (14), swerving (6), and failing to conform to a sign (2).
142 vehicles were involved in the fatal accidents with private cars being the majority at 37. Among others were lorries (20), motorcycles (19), mini-buses (17), bicycles (17), hire cars (13) and pick-ups (10). Also 284 accidents up to December 8 this year were classified as ‘serious’, 309 were ‘minor’, and 713 were ‘damage’, all down from the previous year by 22%, 46% and 28.2% for the corresponding period last year.
The police said that 60, 079 cases were made this year in the ongoing ‘Operation Safeway’ campaign continues. The greatest number of cases made was 17,411 for speeding, followed by 5333 for over-loaded minibus. 156 cases were made for driving under the influence while there were 1249 cases of unlicensed drivers and 304 cases of dangerous driving. 5216 persons were charged for breach of condition of road service license while 132 cases were made for failing to adhere to a siren.
May, July and November were the deadliest months with 17, 12 and 14 persons dying in those months respectively. Last year July was the deadliest month with 21 persons dying in road accidents.
This year ‘C’ Division is the one with the most fatalities at 25, followed closely by ‘A’ Division at 23, ‘B’ at 22, ‘E&F’ at 19, ‘D’ at 13 and ‘G’ at 7.
The police said that the Traffic Department is continuing its efforts to make the roads of the country safer through rigid enforcement of the traffic laws and traffic education. It said that the Force continues to receive meaningful support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, the National Road Safety Council, the Traffic Advisory Committee and other stakeholders. “As we continue into the Christmas period, the Guyana Police Force is urging all categories of road users to do so in observance of the five C’s – Care, Courtesy, Caution, Common-Sense and Consideration”, the statement said.
