30 benefit from Home Affairs Ministry’s safety helmet campaign
Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn, today, distributed 30 helmets to motorists and cyclists as it ramps up its efforts to promote and support road safety.
Minister Benn embarked on this initiative to take a hands-on approach to reduce road deaths in this category of road users as they make up a large percentage of victims, with speeding and the lack of safety helmets recorded as contributing factors.
Motorists and cyclists near the junction of the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the East Bank Demerara public road benefited from the exercise. Minister Benn told the recipients he hoped wearing the safety gear would help them become more conscious about road safety and road usage.
“The helmets will not work by itself, but it’s how you use the road and how you respect yourself and road safety…I want to do this. I am giving out free helmets to encourage you to take the necessary actions to prevent damage and hurt to yourselves and families, and to the country at large.”
The Minister also encouraged the motorists and cyclists to ensure that their pillion riders also wear helmets.
The helmet campaign is one of the measures the Ministry announced during the National Road Safety Week of activities on November 23. The campaign is a collaboration between the Ministry, the Guyana National Road Safety Council and the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department.
The Ministry also plans to distribute high-visibility vests and lights to cyclists. The Police have recorded an 81 per cent increase in motorists’ deaths compared to with the same period last year. Thirty-eight deaths were recorded in 2020, compared to 21 in 2019. Deaths of cyclists skyrocketed to a 106 per cent increase, with 37 deaths being recorded this year compared to 18 in 2019.
