October was deadliest month for road fatalities last year

Jan 12, 2011 News

This minibus was involved in one of the many fatal accidents last year.

– pedestrians top list

October turned out to be the deadliest month for road users last year, with 22 fatalities.
This is according to figures released by the Police Traffic Department yesterday.
This resulted from 11 fatal accidents during the month.
The second deadliest month was July with 13 fatalities, followed by August with 12, while there were 11 fatalities each in January and April.
February, March and December recorded the least amount of fatalities with five apiece.
Overall there was a two percent reduction in road deaths for 2010 when compared with the previous year. Last year 115 persons lost their lives as a result of road accidents, compared with 117 for 2009.
Georgetown and its environs recorded the most fatalities with 41 deaths, followed by Berbice with 29.
The East Coast of Demerara was third with 22 and West Demerara recorded 11 road deaths.
Private cars accounted for the most fatalities, 42 of them being involved.
Motorcycles and bicycles came next, accounting for 24 and 21 road deaths respectively.
Despite the horrific smash-up on the East Coast of Berbice, which claimed 12 lives, minibuses accounted for 17 road deaths.
During last year, 40 pedestrians were killed on the roads, while motorcyclists and pedal cyclists were the next highest categories.
Speeding was responsible for 70 of the deaths last year, followed by inattentiveness, which accounted for 17 fatalities.
Driving under the influence of alcohol caused four fatalities and error of judgement, six, according to the police figures.
According to the police’s public relations department, in addition to the above mentioned figures, seven children died on the roads during 2010, compared to 18 in the previous year; a reduction of 61 percent.
The police said that this achievement was due to a combination of factors including rigid traffic enforcement by the Police, especially through its zero tolerance “Operation Safeway” throughout the country.
There was also traffic education via the media and in schools, the acquisition and use of radar guns, which has had an impact on speeding, resulting in some level of compliance by motorists and the use of breathalyzers to deal with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Figures from the Police Traffic Department showed that ranks made 15,362 speeding cases, while 678 persons were charged for using cellular phones while driving.
Close to 1,100 cases of drunk driving were made last year.
Also cited as a positive development was the enforcement of the law in relation to Provisional Drivers’ Licences, with the licences being issued for a two to three-month period, after which, the holder has to successfully complete the learner-driver theoretical examination in order to continue being processed for a driver’s licence.
Other positive factors were the increase in monetary fines for specific traffic offences where tickets are issued and the enforcing of the laws, particularly as it relates to driving under the influence of alcohol and the non-use of mobile phones while driving.
In addition, it was noted that the Police Force has received meaningful support in dealing with traffic from the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, the National Road Safety Council, the Traffic Advisory Committee and other stakeholders.

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