Pedestrians who walk and text face disciplinary action by the police. This was one of the points made when the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ministries of Education, Health, Home Affairs and Public Works announced that they will be conducting road safety education programmes targeting schools and adult institutions throughout the 10 administrative regions.
A release from the Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) said that at a press conference on Tuesday, Traffic Chief, Superintendent Hugh Denhert expressed condolences to the families of those persons who died after the accident at Mon Repos on February 3. Superintendent Denhert urged all road users to adhere to the rules and regulations of the road.
He said that this year the GPF will be focusing heavily on enforcement exercises, particularly for persons in the habit of speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and pedestrians’ texting and walking on the roadways and breaching the traffic lights.
GINA said that GNRSC Chairman, Nigel Erskine reminded that road safety is everybody’s business; and urged that all road users must always practice the five Cs of road safety: Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Commonsense when using the roadways.
He is optimistic that with the continuous education programmes, accidents and deaths fall will be below 100 this year. GNRSC Treasurer, Colvern Venture said that it was noted that motorcyclists often stray away from the safety aspect especially in the nights and the council is advocating that they wear clothing or reflector vests and lights at nights.
GINA quoted GNRSC member, Norman McLean as saying, “Education is the key to getting persons to know the rules and having better drivers on the roads.” He said that road safety education is important, especially in schools where children can also influence their parents to adhere to those rules.
He also said that persons need to be dealt with in a firm manner and the courts need to be stricter in the application of justice because often times persons are causing deaths and then given bail as low as $10,000, GINA added.
