Gov’t spends more than $60M annually for signs, road markings

Mar 15, 2017 News

Each year, the government spends approximately $60M to maintain and mark new roads, erect signs and construct rails in an effort to guide road users and prevent sometimes fatal accidents.
An engineer attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure made this disclosure recently after it was revealed that poor road markings and other indicators have resulted in more than 60 drivers being stopped on a daily basis by traffic cops.
Some of them have even been charged for breaching the traffic laws such as driving up one-way streets.
The engineer explained that there are signs and markings to guide road users throughout the country and this is an ongoing exercise to improve road safety measures. While the paintings might fade, they are usually re-painted annually.
Kaieteur News was informed that at times some of the signs on the road are vandalized and while experienced drivers might be aware of the street markings without the necessary indications, young drivers might be clueless.
Additionally, there are reports that more than 10,000 driving packages were sold last year which meant that more than 10,000 new drivers are on the road—This would stress the importance of continuous road markings.
“You see when there is no sign and you drive up the one-way, the police want come and lock you up but if there is no indicator, how is it the driver’s fault? He or she might not have been aware of the regulations because they are not from the area,” a taxi driver said.
He explained that when he moved to the city back in 2005, he was charged for driving up a one-way street in Kitty.
“They want to charge you for not following the regulation but what if you don’t know? It is their duty to inform you and if signs are vandalized, then they need to do maintenance because the police use the opportunity to make money,” the driver explained.
Kaieteur News was informed that the Ministry will be looking at a new system whereby paintings and markings will last longer.

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