Statistics do not lie

Mar 02, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – A motorcyclist and his pillion rider were both killed following an accident with another vehicle Tuesday night. The accident took place on the No. 79 Public Road, Corentyne.

The same No. 79 Public Road claimed the life of a motorcyclist in early February after his bike was struck by a car. The pillion rider was injured.  One week earlier, a motor cyclist died after colliding with a parked vehicle on the Auchlyne Public Road. Similar circumstances claimed the life of another motorcyclist at Port Mourant towards the end of January.

On the East Coast of Demerara, another motorcyclist died following a collision with a vehicle. This took place on the Foulis Access Road. Another motorcyclist died after colliding with a parked container at Wales, West Coast Demerara. The quiet village of Wakenaam was rocked by grief following the death of motorcyclist on 10^th January. This accident involved a tractor. These deaths have a pattern to them. Persons are being killed while inside speeding vehicles, by speeding vehicles or as a result of colliding with vehicles and containers that are parked on the road shoulders. Just last week, the Minister of Home Affairs expressed his alarm at the high incidence of road traffic accidents. It was noted that there were some 18 fatalities in the first two months of the year, a more than doubling of the road deaths when compared with the same period last year. This spate of read deaths follows a reduction in the number of persons killed on the roads in both 2021 and 2022. Last year, road fatalities were less than 100.

For this year alone, half of the road fatalities were motorcyclists. Yet, the government is moving in the direction of registering electric bikes and requiring the licensing of those who use these electric bikes, but does not seem to recognise that there are far more deaths  involving motorcyclists. It was reported that last year, some eight persons riding electric bikes lost their lives. But this statistics does not in itself establish a case for the need to register these bikes or to license their users.

Admittedly, there are more motorcycles on the roads than electric bikes. As such, one would expect there to be more road accidents involving motorcycles. But one does not necessarily expect there to be more road deaths. Motorcycles above a certain engine capacity are required to be driven by persons wearing helmets. This ought to mitigate deaths. Also, the drivers of motorcycles have to pass a test requiring them to demonstrate proficiency in using the roads. Therefore, despite there being more motorcycles than electric bikes, the number of road deaths involving motorcycles should not be as high as they are at present.

But you do not hear the authorities demanding stronger regulations for motorcycle drivers. But after a mere eight electric bikes’ fatalities, steps are being taken to regulate the use of such bikes on the roadways. But did anyone investigate thoroughly the number of deaths that we had last year to determine who was at fault and whether the electric bike cyclists that were killed were all responsible for the accidents that led to their deaths? Interestingly, more pedal cyclists and pedestrians were killed on the road than electric bikes’ cyclists.

But you do not hear the authorities calling for stronger regulation concerning the use of bicycles on the roadways or for pedestrians to be certified before using the roads. But a small number of deaths involving electric bikes led to threats that these bikes would have to be registered by the Guyana Revenue Authority and that only persons over the age of 16 years and who are certified to ride a motorcycle will be allowed to do so soon. Ever since the West Coast Demerara Public Road was resurfaced, it has become a racing circuit for motorcars and other vehicles. Speeding has led to numerous accidents and deaths on that roadway.

The main public roads of Guyana are also now being overrun by businesses and the customers of these businesses use the cycle lanes for parking, thus increasing the risk of both cyclists and pedestrians being victims of road accidents. During the Christmas Season, a woman was shopping in a business place and a truck ploughed into the premises pinning her and leading to her death. Yet, the government continues to authorise more and more businesses to be reopened along the main public roads. Statistics does not lie but their interpretations can.

Those demanding regulation of electric bikes are not all doing so out of concern for road safety. Certain business interests have a stake in ensuring that this new form of public transportation is suppressed. But at least they should be honest and call for similar restrictions on the expanding businesses along main public roads.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• Auchlyne, Corentyne, Peeping Tom, Statistics, Wakenaam

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