Greater enforcement, awareness to reduce fatal accidents
Georgetown, GINA, August 18, 2016
The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) traffic department will intensify enforcement of road laws as the fatal accident toll keeps increasing.
Traffic Chief, Dion Moore told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that for the year, 80 fatal accidents have been recorded compared to 65 last year.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan presenting a copy of the Guyana National Road Safety’s first ever magazine to a representative of Massy Group of Company. Massy was one of several sponsors that contributed towards the publishing of the magazine.
Moore said the traffic department has already begun an enforcement drive to prevent further road fatalities. “We’re upping our enforcement drive and we will continue,” Moore said. Already, the traffic division has brought 45,772 cases against errant drivers.
Moore said enforcement will be coupled with a public awareness drive targeting young people. “The other aspect we are focusing on is education. At the moment we are working with the youths in the various divisions that have community groups.”
The Traffic Chief admitted that much more needs to be done to reduce deaths on the road.
Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that governmental measures are being examined to tackle road deaths. He cited obtaining of a driver’s licence as one area to be examined.
“We have to do something about that because lots of people who get driver’s licence seem not to know how to drive,” Ramjattan noted. The Minister also added that re-testing of seniors to ensure that they are fit to drive is also up for consideration.
Traffic Chief Dion Moore
The minister made these remarks at the launch a road safety magazine published by the Guyana National Road Safety Council (NRSC) today, at the Traffic Headquarters, Eve Leary.
The Traffic Chief explained that his department is collaborating with the Cops and Faith Network to have them invigilate and mark the theoretical exams that need to be taken before licences are issued, and to monitor the practical examination, as well.
The measure is to “ensure transparency and reduce any form of unprofessional conduct by police ranks, allegedly,” Moore said.
Additionally, Minister Ramjattan said that government will be reviewing building codes to include garages to accommodate vehicles, instead of leaving them on the pavement.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan at the launch of the National Road Safety Council’s magazine
Ramjattan said too, that more speed bumps in relevant places, ensuring that roads are well built and lit and energy absorbing barriers are also being examined by the government to lessen death and destruction on the roadways.
The minister noted that education on road usage is also paramount to this effort. “Constant road safety awareness at schools and other places where young people especially will know what the rules are,” is also being addressed at the level of government, Ramjattan said.
The NRSC was commended for its efforts by Minister Ramjattan and assured that his ministry will work towards getting greater subvention for the council to continue its work.