Motorists warned CCTV cameras operational

Nov 18, 2018 News

All Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at key city intersections are functioning, according to Traffic Chief, Superintendent Linden Isles. He warned that drivers will continue to be prosecuted.
Superintendent Isles recently disclosed that despite the many misconceptions all the cameras are functioning and are being constantly monitored.
He also confirmed that there were, and continue to be, successful prosecutions of errant motorists who commit traffic offences.
“Footage from some of these cameras has led to convictions in hundreds of careless driving and dangerous driving cases.” The CCTV usage has also boosted crime-fighting efforts by enabling law enforcement ranks to track and intercept criminals.
Installed over seven years ago and constantly upgraded, the closed-circuit camera system was initiated under the previous administration. At least 130 cameras were installed initially. The government has also started a Citizens Security Programme (CSP), funded with support from the Inter-American Development Bank.
Phase Two of the CSP will lead to an “emergency smart street safe city proposal” that will see the installation of over 100 CCTV cameras in and around the city, where over 50% of the crimes are committed. The proposal also includes the construction of a command centre, where the footage would be monitored day and night.
From January to August, the Guyana Police Force recorded 50,068 traffic cases, with speeding topping the list of offences with 13,903.
Of these cases, 2615 were for breach of condition of road service licence/music, 2,389 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 2,906 for failure to confirm with road signs, 4,445 for failure to wear seat belt, 1948 for crossing double yellow line, 1,295 for obstruction and 1,168 for failure to wear safety helmets.
Additionally, there were 1,136 cases for overloaded minibus, 1,987 for tinted motor vehicles, and 963 for breach of traffic light symbol, 566 for using cellular phone while driving, 497 for dangerous driving and 440 for careless driving. There were 21, 751 other offences.
In respect to traffic managements, 55 fatal accidents which resulted in 64 deaths were recorded at the end of August. Of the road users killed 24 were pedestrians, 14 were pedal cyclist, 13 were occupants of cars and seven motor cyclists.
According to the Guyana Police Force, two drivers and two minibus passengers were killed, while a pillion rider and a person being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.
Despite these figures, the force’s Public Relations Division said there was a 7.4% decrease in fatal accidents recorded at the end of August. Serious, minor and damage accidents have also been decreased by 24%, 35.4% and 10% respectively.
Speeding resulting in 29 of these accidents, speeding/driving under the influence of alcohol resulted on eight of these accidents, pedestrians crossing in the path of approaching vehicle caused seven accidents, inattentiveness and failure to confirm to signs resulted in seven and 10 of these accidents respectively.
Of the 55 fatal accidents, 21 involved hire cars; 14, minibuses; nine, hire cars; and six each involved lorries and motorcycles.
The Police Force had said that it will continue its countrywide enforcement with emphasis on driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, music/breach of condition of road service licence, overloaded minibuses, use of cellular phones, using vehicles other than licence for (private hire) and failure to wear safety helmets.
It said that the traffic department will continue lectures to schools, and also visible patrols at areas to ensure the safety of school children.

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