Speeding and unlicensed drivers main causes of fatal accidents in Guyana

- Gov’t working to end recklessness on roadways

Commissioner of Police (Acting) Nigel Hoppie during the Guyana Police Force’s Annual Police Officers’ Conference today revealed that in 2021, 11,708 cases of speeding, 1097 of inattentiveness and 2089 unlicensed drivers were recorded as the main reasons for fatal accidents.

Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie.

This was in spite of the reduction in fatal accidents in 2021 compared to the year 2020. There were 99 fatal accidents in 2021 and 139 in 2020, which Hoppie said was the best number in the last 16 years.

A 2021 accident.

There has been a further decrease in fatal accidents in 2022 from January to March.

“Up to March 8 this year, we have recorded a 9.5% decrease in road fatalities, compared to the similar period last year, with 19 fatalities from 15 accidents this year as against 21 from 2020 last year,” Hoppie revealed.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali said the technology will be deployed to improve road safety as he made it clear that the reckless use of the roads must come to an end.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali delivering his feature address.

The commander-in-chief said, “our roads are for moving people safely around, they are not racing circuits or local remake of the fast and the furious.”

He said the Government will soon be installing fixed speed radars on the main roads to identify those who speed and to photograph these infractions.

Fixed digital speed cameras detect the speed of vehicles by using approved electronic sensors that are embedded in the road surface. These sensors accurately measure the speed of the vehicle. If the speed of the vehicle exceeds the legal limit, then a digital picture is taken of the offending vehicle.

Dr. Ali stated that the initiative will be costly but it is essential to stem the road carnage in the country. He also urged the force to come up with a tangible and actionable educational campaign that can address road fatalities in Guyana. President Ali stated, “We need an educational programme that is not one-off, we need an educational campaign on this issue, a campaign that is sustained, one that is built on a communication strategy and one that incorporates all the avenues the public receive information.”