Dear Editor,
I refer to the report in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News on the accident at No. 49 Village, Corentyne that killed two persons.
This obviously was not a highway. It was a village road – horses, donkeys, people also use the same road. The speed limit on a village road should be 25 mph.
Hitting a horse at 25 mph would not cause the driver to lose control of the car as happened in the accident reported on yesterday. And, the car could not turn turtle and end up in a trench, killing two persons and injuring several others.
I wonder if the authorities in Guyana (Ministers in the govt, officers in the traffic dept) would believe me, if I say, the speed limit in the whole of New York City is 25 mph. (Only on the Expressways the speed limit rises above 25 mph – up to 55 – 65 mph). On the Interstate highways, the limit is 65 – 75 mph.
The main reason for so many road deaths in this country is the widespread use of village roads as highways. Do not do highway speeds on village roads.
That would be trying to commit suicide.
Unless we educate the motorists about the difference between village roads and highways, set appropriate speed limits, enforce the traffic laws vigorously – we will not be able to end the road carnage in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Mike Persaud
