By Mark DaCosta- In heart-wrenching incidents that underscore our nation’s escalating road safety crisis, two young lives were snuffed out in separate fatal accidents on the same day, sparking outrage and calls for justice. On 30 October 2025, a 15-year-old boy named Navindra Mahes was tragically struck and killed by a car driven by a female police officer near Success on the East Coast of Demerara. Coinciding with this tragedy, just hours earlier, 32-year-old Azim Khan lost his life in a motorcycle crash in Berbice. These incidents highlight not just personal losses, but the broader epidemic of road violence plaguing our country.
As the clock struck 07:30 hrs that fateful Thursday morning, Mahes was on his way to Annandale Secondary School, a diligent student preparing for his CSEC examinations. According to eyewitness accounts and video footage, he was crossing the road at a designated pedestrian crossing when the incident occurred. The driver of the car, a 35-year-old female police corporal, reportedly failed to navigate the traffic safely, resulting in the collision that sent Navindra soaring through the air before he landed, gravely injured. His mother, Christina Arjun, described him as a “jolly person, respectable and well-mannered,” and demanded justice: “The main thing right now, I need to see justice for my son. That is all I am looking forward to.” Despite the best efforts of medical personnel at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Navindra succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
On the same day, Azim Khan met a similarly tragic fate while riding his motorcycle. At approximately 05:46 hrs, he lost control of his bike and collided with a concrete fence. This devastating event serves as a stark reminder of the risks motorcyclists face — a demographic that is statistically among our nation’s most vulnerable road users. The persistence of such tragedies poses an unsettling question: What more must be done to address this epidemic?
Experts warn that road safety in our nation has reached a critical juncture. The accumulation of fatal accidents remains distressingly high, with recent statistics revealing alarming trends. In 2023 alone, our country recorded 178 road deaths, with the subsequent year showing slight improvements due to intensified law enforcement efforts. However, with over 81 fatalities reported in the first nine months of 2025, we appear to be regressing, especially concerning pedestrian and motorcyclist safety.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has made ongoing attempts to curb these incidents through public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic laws. However, the palpable culture of recklessness still thrives. Speeding tends to be a common thread in many fatal accidents, with one report highlighting that it contributes to approximately 70 percent of such tragedies. The ensuing consequences of inattentiveness among drivers — often exacerbated by mobile phone use while driving — have made our roads perilous. Furthermore, riding under the influence and failure to wear safety gear pose additional hazards that can be avoided with greater vigilance and responsibility from road users.
The grim reality is that fatal accidents often intersect with broader socioeconomic issues, hitting hardest those who can least afford to lose a family member. Whether it’s a student striving for success or a young worker just beginning to make a living, the implications ripple through families and communities. The government must acknowledge the severity of this plague on our roads and take bolder strides toward promoting a culture of safety and accountability among every road user.
As the nation mourns the loss of Navindra Mahes and Azim Khan, we cannot allow their deaths to be in vain. Calls for reform must grow louder, demanding comprehensive measures that prioritise road safety. Authorities need to facilitate not just penalties for reckless drivers but meaningful education about safe road practices from an early age. The time for action is now; we cannot afford to keep burying our young due to preventable tragedies.
In mourning, we must galvanise as a community — not just to honour those we’ve lost but to forge a safer future for all who travel our roads.
