The growing number of accident-related injuries and deaths over the year so far has been noted with growing alarm by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).
In a release yesterday, the MoHA sympathized with the families, friends and communities impacted by this state of affairs.
The MoHA observed in the release, that this increase in road fatalities “appears to be a daily occurrence” and that the indications are that reckless driver behaviour, attributable to excessive speeds, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without due care and attention, tailgating, and driving while tired, are common causes. Apparently, the ministry opined, the five Cs – Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Commonsense – taught at our driving schools seemed to have been forgotten or ignored altogether by many motorists. It added with some consternation that motorists are failing to observe the fundamental principle of safe driving, which is to maintain a safe braking distance and not exceed the required speed limits.
The MoHA therefore holds the view that this situation necessitates stringent law enforcement, adding, “It is simply not acceptable that Guyanese continue to perish and be injured on the roadways.” As such it is continuously collaborating with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive action plan to reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030. This would be coupled with all road users taking personal responsibility by adhering to road safety measures and guidelines.
Furthermore, on November 7, 2022, the National Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022 to promote and enforce safe driving while imposing much higher penalties for serious infractions.
According to the release, the National Road Safety Council’s financial resources have been boosted from $3 million to more than $11 million, which is intended to aid in the sensitization and reduction of road accidents.
The ministry says it is committed to training, and education, through advocacy, to provide evidence-based road safety knowledge and awareness programmes to create a culture of safety among all road users and address high-risk behaviours among young adults and the broader road-using community. Therefore, as part of corporate social responsibility, it is encouraging private sector participation in augmenting national efforts to promote road safety awareness.
It was pointed out however, that the Traffic Department has been intensifying efforts to prevent speeding on the roads, but despite these efforts, deaths on the nation’s roadways continue to be problematic. The administration has been spending considerable sums of money to upgrade roads and highways, as well as installing lights and CCTV cameras at strategic points, which improve infrastructure and safety for all road users.
The Ministry wishes to remind the public that there is no justification for not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt. An accident may occur at any time, but personal safety and that of others should be prioritised over convenience, as the case may be. Not only is it the law to wear a helmet or a seatbelt at all times, but it only takes a few seconds to do so. “We all have a role to play in the prevention of road accidents. It cannot be the responsibility of the Police Traffic Department alone.”
And despite the encouragement given to motorists with the free distribution of safety helmets, the release pointed out that a large number of motorists continue to ride without helmets, and worse yet, persons are transporting women and children on motorcycles without helmets at high speeds. “This practice must be stopped,” the MoHA asserted.
Additionally, the ministry stated that it will be pursuing discussions with the relevant stakeholders regarding the requirements for the importation, registration and licensing of electric bikes.
The release also disclosed the following traffic statistics.
Fatal accidents and fatalities
For the period January 1 to February 18, 2023, 16 persons were killed when compared with 8 persons for 2022. The 2023 results show a 100 per cent increase when compared with 2022.
It was noted that pedestrian fatalities increased by 25 per cent when compared to the same period last year. Whereas approximately 44 per cent of motorcyclists were killed during the same period compared to last year.
Comparative data has shown that as of February 18, 2023, 16 persons were killed on the roadways as a result of 14 accidents, when compared with the same period for 2022 when 8 persons died from 7 accidents. What is significantly alarming to the MoHA is that in 2022, 5 of the 8 persons killed during that period were the most vulnerable classes of road users (2 pedal cyclists, 1 motorcyclist and 2 pedestrians). While at February 18, 2023, of the 13 killed the vulnerable classes accounted for 16 (2 pedal cyclists, 7 motorcyclists, 4 pedestrians).
Serious accidents
According to the data provided as of February 18, 2023, 41 serious accidents were recorded, while 39 serious accidents occurred during the same period in 2022, indicating a 5 per cent increase in serious accidents in 2023 when compared to 2022.
Data also clearly indicates that fatal accidents occur primarily on Sundays and Fridays between the hours of 18:00 and 05:59, with male drivers accounting for 81 per cent of all deaths.
However, the administration was able to reduce road deaths by 30 per cent in 2021 and 2022, with less than 100 persons killed for the first time in 16 years. This achievement of the previous two years, it noted, will be extremely difficult to maintain at the present rate of road fatalities.
A further review of more measures to promote road safety is currently being undertaken through a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force, the Traffic Department, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Education.
