Guyana experiences 50 % increase in Fatal Accidents

Jun 19, 2016 News

-Traffic Task force reintroduced

Citing driving under the influence as the major cause of some traffic accidents, Traffic Chief, Dion Moore, has revealed that the State is currently experiencing a 50 percent increase in fatal accidents.

Traffic Chief, Dion Moore

The Chief told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that there has also been an increase in minor accidents by 21 percent. There was a reported 60 accidents for this year compared to 40 during the same time last year.
Speeding was listed as a major contributor to some of the reported fatal accidents as well as inattentiveness on the roadways.
Further, a total of 12,161 persons have been charged so far for speeding as speeding is the offence that police has issued the most tickets for, Moore related.
The Traffic Chief said that the everyday enforcement coupled with education awareness across the country will be used to decrease traffic accidents. He also stated that the authorities will work along with all relevant stakeholders to curb this increase.
Also on the agenda is the collaboration between the police; the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC); youth organisations and vocational training programmes over the August holiday to conduct educational programmes on road safety.
Sixty-one percent increase in non-fatal accidents
Meanwhile, the Traffic Task Force has been reintroduced following a 61 percent increase in vehicular accidents for this year.
Following a recent interview with the state media, Traffic Chief, Dion Moore stated that the use of cell phones while driving and inattentiveness are among the reasons for this increase.
He continued that the traffic department’s main focus will be to apprehend drivers who choose to drive above the prescribed speed limit; speeding in area there are traffic lights amongst other unlawful activities.
It has been stated that the reintroduction of the traffic task force is expected to address all traffic violations and will consist of police ranks including inspectors – who will be conducting enforcement in all divisions.
Moore pointed out several challenges being faced by the traffic department with use of cell phones whilst driving being a “soreing issue”. He pointed that effectively charging persons with this violation is difficult since officers will first have to recognize the offense which will be later be contested by many drivers.
However, the police are being assisted by the surveillance cameras that are installed throughout the city. These cameras have been assisting the police in bringing charges against drivers who breach traffic codes.