Former parliamentarian and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, has issued a stark warning on the state of road safety in Guyana, describing November 2025 as “one of the deadliest months in recent years” and urging immediate, evidence-based interventions to stop the rising number of fatalities.
Guyana has experienced a troubling pattern of road deaths over the past three years. In 2023, the Guyana Police Force reported 175 road fatalities, a sharp increase from the previous year, with speeding identified as a major factor. In 2024, there was a slight improvement, with 132 deaths in 117 fatal accidents, representing a 24% decrease from 2023.
The trend in 2025 remains concerning. By mid-June, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported 58 deaths in 54 accidents, including 30 motorcyclists, of whom 23 were not wearing helmets. By October, police reported 104 fatalities for the year. Vulnerable road users, particularly motorcyclists and pedestrians, continue to account for a significant share of fatalities, highlighting persistent gaps in enforcement, road design, and public safety measures.
In a detailed letter to the editor, Ferguson expressed condolences to families affected by the escalating number of accidents, noting, “The increasing frequency of road accidents on our nation’s roadways, many of which result in fatalities, demands deeper analysis and decisive intervention.” She added that “the pain and trauma borne by these families are immeasurable.”
Ferguson argues that despite new traffic laws, public-awareness campaigns, and technological upgrades—including CCTV and body-camera deployment—the Guyana Police Force appears unable to effectively stem the rise in collisions. She noted that “a significant number of drivers continue to use our roadways in careless, reckless, and dangerous ways,” adding that the pattern reflects a systemic failure rather than isolated incidents.
She stressed that she has “raised this issue repeatedly, yet little improvement is visible,” calling for what she describes as “serious and systemic interventions.” Her proposals, grounded in international best practices, span reforms in licensing, road-safety governance, enforcement technology, penalties, urban planning, and strategic use of national resources.
Ferguson called for a full review of procedures for issuing and renewing licences, including mandatory medical and psychological evaluations. She emphasised that “before licences are granted or extended, drivers should undergo medical and psychological evaluations to assess fitness, alertness, and mental stability.” She referenced systems in Japan, Norway, and Singapore, where similar measures have reduced accidents linked to medical impairment.
She also argued that the National Road Safety Council must be strengthened, stating that “the persistence and escalation of accidents suggest that the Council’s current mandate, resources, and enforcement capacity must be enhanced.” As examples of effective models, she pointed to Sweden’s “Vision Zero,” as well as cross-sectoral approaches used in Barbados and Jamaica.
Turning to technology, Ferguson observed that although cameras are deployed, enforcement remains inconsistent. She highlighted automated systems used in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Estonia, which she believes serve as benchmarks for the next stage of road-safety modernisation in Guyana. On the matter of penalties, Ferguson said chronic offenders are not moved by public-awareness campaigns. She recommends the adoption of a graduated, point-based penalty system, similar to those in Canada and New Zealand, along with rehabilitation programmes for high-risk drivers.
She further argued that roadway design plays a significant role in accident patterns. Drawing from examples in the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Colombia, she urged Guyana to incorporate traffic-calming measures, protected pedestrian zones, reflective signage, and other low-cost interventions along high-risk corridors.
In advancing her strongest financial argument, Ferguson wrote, “As Guyana’s oil resources continue to expand, it is time policymakers begin thinking outside the box.” She noted that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have successfully used resource wealth to modernise traffic-management systems and improve road-safety infrastructure. She emphasised that Guyana must similarly allocate funds to “long-term road-safety infrastructure, capacity building, and sustainable urban planning.”
In closing, Ferguson reiterated that road safety requires unified action. “Road safety is a shared responsibility, but leadership, coordination, and enforcement are paramount,” she warned, adding that education campaigns alone are insufficient. She ended with a call for collective action: “We all can, and must play a part in helping to preserve life and safeguard our roadways.”
