The police today said that at the end of December last year traffic deaths were up by a whopping 30% while murders were down by 5% compared to 2013.
The police press release follows.
At the end of December 2014 the Guyana Police Force recorded a 15% drop in serious crimes when the period January 01 to December 31, 2014, is compared with the corresponding period in 2013.
Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.
A total of 147 murders were recorded at the end of December 2014 in comparison to 155 murders for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 5%.
At the end of December 2014 robbery under arms overall has increased by 5% in comparison to the same period in 2013. The statistics indicate an increase of 11% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 6% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
During 2014 a total of eighty four (84) firearms were recovered by the police comprising 46 pistols, 28 revolvers, 9 shotguns and 1 rifle.
In relation to traffic, 146 road fatalities from 135 accidents have been recorded at the end of December 2014 in comparison to 112 fatalities from 103 accidents for the same period in 2013; a 30% increase in fatalities.
Pedestrians have been the main road users affected with 60 such persons having lost their lives at the end of December 2014. In addition 26 motor cyclists, 20 pedal cyclists, 16 drivers, 23 persons travelling in motor vehicles and 1 person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 87 of the 135 fatal accidents recorded at the end of December 2014.
Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 65,475 cases being made against errant motorists unto the end of December 2014; of this total, 19,075 cases were for speeding.
To date, 3 persons have lost their lives due to fatal accidents during this month January 2015.
The generally indiscriminate use of the roads by all categories of road users was a factor that contributed significantly to the spiraling number of fatal accidents last year and the Guyana Police Force is therefore urging that all persons use the roadways in a manner that is cognisant of the five Cs – Care, Consideration, Caution, Common Sense, and Courtesy.
During this year the Police Traffic Department will be intensifying its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences such as using motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving.
At the same time the Traffic Department will enhance its traffic education programme through the Road Safety Talk and other media programmes as well as symposiums and visits to schools and bus/car parks for interactive sessions.
A number of initiatives that were adopted in 2014 will continue this year, inclusive of the ‘Name and Shame’ campaign in relation to persons driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of the tow truck in situations where motor vehicles are parked in contravention of the laws, as the Force strives to ensure road safety.
