Berbice police clamping down on road lawlessness

Apr 27, 2009 News

NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – With an increase in the number of deaths on the roadways in Berbice this year, the traffic department is taking the necessary steps to curb lawlessness in the division. Over the weekend, Officer-In-Charge of Traffic, Senior Superintendent Owen Trotz, said that in light of this, some exercises have been stepped up and more attention is placed on malpractices.

This means that those in the habit of speeding, consuming alcohol before taking the wheel, using mobile phones while the vehicle is in motion and owners of vehicles with tinted glass should take heed.

Between January 1 and April 20 this year, the road fatality figures for Division ‘B’ stood at eight. For the corresponding period in 2008, the figure was five. For the entire 2008 three children died in the road accidents in Berbice. This year so far there was one. Thirteen-year-old Bibi Haniff of Number Seventy-two Village on the Corentyne was added to road fatality statistics after she was run over by a truck, GJJ 6819, a few weeks ago.

The rise in the number of deaths on the roadways this year may be due to more activities at nights. Many of the accidents in Division ‘B’ took place after 17:00 hours. A traffic audit revealed that up to August 2008 there was less night driving and fewer nocturnal activities. That was the period when some notorious bandits were on the loose and the fear of crime was high.

The serious accidents figures for the same period – January 1 to April 20, 2008 —were 26. This year the figure is 24. More ticket cases were made this year for speeding and failure to wear the safety helmet, and the seat belt. Total traffic matters that engaged the attention of the courts in Division ‘B’ for this year is 6,413 and 1,815 in 2008.

Officials in the traffic department in both East and West Berbice are intensifying their efforts to ensure that better practices are used and persons focus more on making the roadways more secure. Under the Operation Safeway /Zero Tolerance campaign, additional lectures are done at schools, youth clubs and religious as well as social organizations.

Generally, the Officer-In-Charge of Traffic is hoping that better sense would prevail on the roadways and many malpractices, by not only drivers but also all road users, would be minimized.

Pedal cyclists are called upon to use the road wisely thus observing the road safety laws and ensure that lights or reflectors are used on their cycles. In addition, they must wear light colour clothing during the hours of darkness.

There are reports of people drag racing in some places and recently three culprits were arrested and placed before the court in New Amsterdam. Quite a few people were prosecuted in Berbice for noise nuisance and this operation continues.

According to the Officer-In-Charge of Traffic, minibus and hire car drivers in Berbice are more co-operative and because of this, very few minibuses bear slogans.

The drive to remove persons who solicit passengers at both the eastern and western ends of the Berbice River Bridge and at the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling would go on until persons realize that it is an offense.

At the Rosignol Ferry Stelling, the situation is not as prevalent. Several touts on the eastern side of the Berbice River were placed before the court this year. The police traffic department is also taking the necessary steps to free the area near the eastern and western sides Berbice River Bridge of persons who vend their wares. Animals roaming the roads continue to be a traffic hazard and nuisance.

At a recent press conference, Commander of Division ‘B’ Assistant Commissioner, George Alexander Vyphuis had indicated that Government is working towards getting pounds back in operation and this may reduce the amount of animals seen on streets in some parts of the country.

But many of these animals carry no brand of ownership.

Senior Superintendent Trotz is pleading with persons who possess animals to keep them off the streets. According to him, the Region Six Road Safety Council is soon to have discussions with representatives of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Community Development Committees seeking their help in reducing the amount of animals that roam the streets.

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