Death on our roads, how can we stop it?

Feb 20, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor

Accidents have become the national disaster tragedy on the Guyana Landscape, hardly a day passes where we are greeted with the morbid news that there had been another fatal accident. The same can be said of vehicular accidents, or should I say vehicular homicides. Our roads are veritable death traps, danger and death is everywhere!

The sad thing about a place called Guyana, is that modern roads are being built, highways and four lane structures are going up all around us, this is a good thing as we match development with proper infrastructure. However, as the roads are being built our road usage has retrogressed way below acceptable standards, our new roads and highways have been converted into four lane racing circuits with the associated casualties, and I say this nonsense has to stop now!

Responsible road use involves driving at a required speed, non-alcoholic usage, when you are the designated driver, and most of all, keeping your eyes on the road for the errant driver out there. If these steps are followed there would be a drastic decline in vehicular homicides.

In a previous article I advocated for stiffer penalties for the horrible misuse of the roads, that is, the revocation of the licenses of those found breaking the law. Drunk driving and excesses speeding, I strongly suggest there be a revocation of one’s license. We cannot allow such persons to be on our roads, period, end of discussion! This I believe would send a strong and lasting message to all those reckless and would be reckless drivers out there.

In addition, there should be adequate compensation to the families of the victims of vehicular homicides, when these measures are put in place notable changes as it relates to proper road use will fall into place.

Another major move government should be engaged in is the establishment of a department of motor vehicles, one that has the sole responsibility for the certification of drivers and the issuance of licenses. The point I am making is, many of those who are road users cannot drive, expressly so due to the corrupt practice of “Buying one’s license,” it is a painful problem that has enveloped The Guyanese Society for as long as I can remember. The establishment of such a department would reduce the incidence, if not wipe it out, of someone obtaining a license without having the requisite certification standards to do so.

Have a Motor Vehicles Department with a pool of certifying officers, this would stop the malpractice of those who would want to bribe the certifying officer who would be carrying out the driving test. The student driver would have no knowledge of who would be administering the test.

The abovementioned measures should be enshrined into law if we are to make any headway in curbing vehicular homicides on our roads.

I have forwarded this letter to the Home Affairs and Attorney General for their consideration.

Respectfully Submitted
Neil Adams

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