Road Safety Council recommends stiffer fines for Minibus operators
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfmOZPH2beM” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─drivers must adhere to speed limit
─criteria for license should be reviewed
DPI, Guyana, Monday, March 18, 2019
At the launch of Road Safety Month 2019, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) took a strong stance against the recent road fatalities the country would have witnessed as a result of reckless minibus operators. As such, the council called for heavier fines to be levied against errant minibus operators.
With respect to driving under the influence, council member sitting on the law enforcement committee, Senior Superintendent (Ret’d) Owen Trotz, added “The first offence is $7500, we want it to be doubled. We are saying for the 2nd offence their license should be suspended and a small jail term [be added], and for the 3rd offence, their license should be suspended forever and jail term [be imposed].”
Trotz explained that the GNRSC dispatched a report to the Traffic Advisory meeting, which is chaired by the Commissioner of Police, with recommendations for legislation to be instituted on upgrading the fines that are currently in place.
To combat the scourge of dangerous driving, Public Relations Officer of GNRSC, Eon Andrews, also took a strong position on the consequences errant drivers should assume. One of these was the suspension of licenses. “If you have three road violations in probably six months, I think your license should be suspended,” he noted.
Regarding the responsibility bus owners should take, Andrews, said “it is very important that these owners be found culpable because they give out hire out their buses and are not held accountable,” as he cited instances of these very owners rehiring “recalcitrant drivers”.
Andrews also called for a review of the provisions for acquiring licenses by those that operate public transportation. He highlighted that an examination of an applicant’s age or years of driving experiences may be necessary to combat reckless driving.
Chairman of GNRSC, Earl Lambert and coordinator, Romona Doorgen were also in attendance at the press conference. Road Safety Month 2019 is celebrated under the theme: “Making Roads Safer for Everyone”.
Shaquille Bourne.
Images: Leon Leung.