Greater police presence needed to curb road accidents

– Minister Benn at Road Safety Week launch

Impaired drivers are the main contributors to the 37 per cent increase in road fatalities in 2020, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn said Monday at the launch of the Ministry’s National Road Safety Week 2020.

From a statistical standpoint, Minister Benn said the most dangerous time to be on the road is between 18:00hrs to 00:00hrs on the weekends.

“The presence of adequate numbers of traffic police on the roads at these times has to be addressed. Based on the statistics, at those times we have fatal accidents, and from observations, we need to have a greater presence of policing, engagement and intervention from the traffic police and others,” he said.

Cyclists and motorists make up a proportionate number of victims, with speeding and absence of safety helmets recorded as major breaches.

Pedestrians wearing dark clothing at nights, the absence of brakes and lights, and poor road usage are also contributing factors to the increase in road fatalities.

“I have bought 100 helmets for adults and 100 for children to give out to errant road users. I will stand on the road and share them out to people who are not using them at the time. We have also gotten high-visibility vests and lights to put on bicycles just to stimulate an interest in [road safety awareness],” Minister Benn said.

This year’s observance is themed ‘Stop Speeding, Don’t Drink and Drive, Stay Alive!’

The launch is a collaboration between the Ministry, the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department and the Guyana National Road Safety Council.

Minister Benn has advised road users that an awareness of enduring personal action, responsibility and accountability, as well as practicing road safety are key to reducing road traffic deaths and injuries.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, Senior Superintendent and Traffic Chief, Ramesh Ashram, and members of the GPF Traffic Department and GNRSC also attended the exercise. (DPI)