Latest update January 5th, 2025 4:10 AM
Sep 11, 2016 News
By PAT DIAL
Traffic accidents is one of the greatest killers in Guyana. At the beginning of World War II and until the end of the 1960’s traffic accident deaths were comparatively rare.
Well-to-do citizens went about in horse-drawn cabs, goods were transported by horse or donkey carts and the majority of the population, including children rode bicycles. Motor- cycles, cars and lorries were used by a fairly small number of people and taxis were comparatively few.
After the 1970’s, motor vehicles, despite the shortage of foreign exchange, came into the country in an increasing crescendo resulting in our road systems, especially in the larger towns and villages, becoming inadequate to accommodate this great influx of vehicles. Road accidents became more common as well as deaths.
A few weeks ago, there was a serious accident involving a minibus in Regent Street, one of Georgetown’s busiest streets. One passenger died and several others were hospitalized with their injuries. Luckily, no pedestrians, who are always in large numbers in the street, were hurt.
After such accidents, there is almost a ritual of the Police saying their part and the public bemoaning such accidents, usually blaming the drivers. Most of what is said tends to recommend punitive action on the parties concerned. A comprehensive and sustained nationwide activity, however, needs to be mounted to deal with the problem, subsuming whatever positive suggestions had been made in the past.
This activity has to be a shared responsibility between the State, motor-vehicle drivers/owners and pedestrians.
The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) has been putting forward the following suggestions over the years:
Firstly, in both the primary and secondary schools, children should be taught the basic traffic laws and how to use the roads, and on the walls of every classroom the traffic rules and regulations should be posted up. Traffic films should be used at the Social Studies classes. Children could be given some practical experience by having them direct traffic in the school street during the midday and end-of-day session. They should wear the traffic director’s sash and jacket and the exposure should be done in rotation. The responsibility for this activity lies with the Ministry of Education.
Secondly, the Police must actively enforce the Laws against having recorded music in the minibuses. The music played is quite loud and when the conductors and drivers listen to this loud music continuously all day, their hearing becomes impaired. A driver who is deaf to whatever degree is a danger on the roads.
Thirdly, the Police must enforce the Law against vehicles using tyres with worn out tracts. Though minibuses rarely have tyres with worn-out tracts, they often use imported used tyres where the defects are concealed. One very common defect of these used imported tyres is that the tyre walls are very weak and could suddenly and easily give way with disastrous results. Though Government has banned the importation of used tyres, they are still seen in the market.
Fourthly, in granting vehicle-fitness, the Police should have a doctor or medex do basic vision and hearing tests of applicants since poor vision or poor hearing could result in accidents.
Fifthly, minibuses and other public transport should not be allowed to have televisions on their dashboards since even a momentary distraction by the TV could result in an accident. Also the rule against using a cell phone and driving should be rigidly enforced.
Motor-cyclists need to be kept under surveillance, since they often go above the speed limit not only on the highways but in populated areas.
Pedestrians have to be taught or reminded of the rules of using the roads safely such as on which side of the road to walk, when to wait and when to cross streets, the meaning of traffic lights, and the danger and illegality of jay-walking.
The Police should advise pedestrians and such advice could also be carried on television.
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