Some thoughts on the road madness in Guyana

Oct 25, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I read your news item on the recent traffic fatalities, as I do others in your paper that are emailed to me daily. Thank you for that. Road accidents have been a plague in Guyana as far back as the 1960’s with the arrival of motor cycles that entered the market then, like Suzuki, Honda etc. During those early years, it was mostly motor cycle accidents that resulted in deaths of the driver and/or pillion rider and it was very prevalent, almost on a weekly basis.
During this time, not many car accidents were happening. A lot less vehicles of all types used the same roads or streets and some drivers or operators were a little more careful. We didn’t have any “highways” then.
Drivers now “speed” to get there quickly, or to make 4-5-6 trips if operating a taxi service. And these roads are not equipped for speeding because too many share the space. Speed bumps may help every quarter of a mile to cut speeding or road divider in middle that prevents passing into opposite lane. It will slow things but I think it will save lives. Driver education needs revamping, banning those caught speeding over regulated limits by canceling licenses.
Or bring back the train service…newer and better…and electric with fenced tracks. It is cheaper to move masses of people and goods. All over the world use train for this reason. Can you name me some “highways” that have been built or any conversion of existed roadways to a “highway status”? I have been absent from Guyana for over 45 years but, still followed news coming out of Guyana. Now, with the internet, it’s quick and instantaneous.
Living abroad, I have seen and learnt the differences of a highway (Hwy), state road (SR) or county-country road (CR). Guyana at the least seem to have county roads all over instead, with traffic moving east/west or north/south using the same roadway, with animals sitting and sharing that space used by cars/trucks/tractors/bicycles/pedestrians/farmers etc. There are barriers for a highway that is void of pedestrian and bicyclists/animals/parked vehicles on roadside and drying produce on road. Homesteads are fenced to keep animals from entering roadways.
Expatriate Guyanese

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