Police launch ‘Operation Safeway’ as fatal accidents increase

Sep 15, 2016 News

‘Common sense is becoming rare’ – says Top Cop

Acting Commissioner, David Ramnarine

At a shocking 96 deaths thus far, the Guyana Police Force, in an attempt to clamp down on drunk, speeding and reckless drivers, have launched Operation Safeway. This is intended to counter the mounting road accidents that result in fatalities.

The operation, which will see traffic ranks on the road conducting rigid exercises throughout the country but mainly in Georgetown, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and East Coast Demerara (ECD), will get underway today.

At a press conference, yesterday, acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine, said that the rate at which people are killed on the country’s roadway is unacceptable, disturbing and very much of concern especially since Guyana is a small developing country.

It is as a result of the worrying figures that the force has launched this exercise with the main objective to reduce all accidents and restoring road safety consciousness.

The crackdown, according to Ramnarine, will see an increase in patrols during the day and night, random breathalyzer testing and an increase in radar guns.

Double parking, especially along the EBD Public Road, will also be addressed.

“It is clear to us that while we in the force are continuing to do so much, there is a need for the driving population to have their own concerns awakened in this respect. As we see it, there is a very high degree of callousness regarding the attitude towards other road users, pedestrians in particular,” Ramnarine said.

There has been a 19 percent increase in deaths for the year thus far, compared to last year—that is, 96 deaths from 89 accidents compared to 81 deaths for the same period last year.

Out of the 96 deaths, there were 29 pedestrians, 19 motorcyclists, 11 pedal cyclists, nine passengers/ occupants and 14 drivers.

The Commissioner (ag) said that based on figures, there is a decline in the application of the five Cs— Caution, Care, Common Sense, Courtesy and Consideration.

“It is becoming clear to me that common sense is becoming so rare that many persons wish they can purchase it in a shop. Sadly, this is not so. Your common sense is your natural sense, the voice that speaks to you from within; but do we listen to that voice?” Ramnarine questioned.

Kaieteur News was told that 63 of the 89 fatal accident cases involved private motorcars with 70 percent of the drivers being between the ages of 18 and 33 years.

Operation Safeway was first launched early in 2009 in an attempt to reduce the rate of fatal accidents.

Only last Tuesday, an infant and his seven-year-old sister lost their lives when the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into two parked vehicles along the Blankenburg Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Marvin, 10 months and his sister, Tina, died on the spot while their mother, Michelle Miguel and step-father, Mark Halley are hospitalized. Halley was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

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One thought on “Police launch ‘Operation Safeway’ as fatal accidents increase”

bl_666 September 15, 2016 at 3:15 pm

It is long past time to introduce a points system, endorsing drivers’ licences as in so many other countries. I’m sure i’ve never read of guilty drivers having a driving ban imposed.
Simple and effective in so many countries. Or is it that these laws are already in place but like so many others, just not being applied through laziness and general incompetence?

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