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Our roadways
Kaieteur News – Amid the hustle and bustle that characterises this election cycle in Guyana, one troubling reality risks going unnoticed: the almost daily reports of road fatalities. For this month thus far, there have been nine fatal accidents according to this newspaper’s records resulting in 15 deaths.
These accidents have become so frequent that, tragically, many citizens are becoming desensitised to the loss of life on our roadways.
Almost every day the news media carry stories of families shattered, breadwinners lost, and children orphaned, yet the conversation about this national tragedy too often remains muted. Earlier this year, the government launched the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) Project, a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA). As part of this project, new radar speed signs and speed cameras have been installed across Guyana to monitor vehicular speeds and traffic patterns.
At the time of the launch government said the automated speed cameras will detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit, and tickets will be generated automatically without manual processing. If a driver’s contact details are registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), they will receive a notification via SMS or email with details of the violation. If their contact details are not registered, a physical ticket will be delivered to their address. The data collected from this system will also help authorities develop effective strategies to reduce speeding and improve road safety.
Initially when the initiative was launched motorists slowed down, speed clocks reminded drivers of their recklessness, and there was a sense that finally, steps were being taken to bring order to Guyana’s notoriously chaotic roads. Unfortunately, that moment was short-lived as speeding has returned, reckless driving has resumed, and the roadways are once again a theater of carnage.
The problem, however, is not just individual recklessness. It is compounded by the state of road construction across the country. Too often, worksites are left poorly lit, inadequately marked, and dangerously exposed. Drivers are forced to navigate sudden diversions, uneven surfaces, and haphazard detours without warning. For a country undergoing rapid infrastructural transformation, this negligence is both ironic and deadly. Infrastructure is meant to support development and improve quality of life. Instead, the lack of proper road management during construction is claiming lives.
The statistics of the past weeks tell a horrifying story: there were three multiple-fatality accidents, with an entire nuclear family of Rupununi wiped out and another two on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
The Safe Road Initiative, commendable in its intent, has been undermined by poor follow-through. Speed clocks alone cannot save lives if there is no consistent policing to back them up. Too many drivers know that they can get away with dangerous behaviour, overtaking recklessly, driving under the influence, ignoring traffic signals because the chances of being caught are slim. Where are the patrols? Where are the breathalyzer checks, the random stops, the visible presence of traffic officers acting as a deterrent? There is also a cultural dimension to our road use that demands attention.
Too many drivers treat the roadways as racetracks. Minibus operators, in particular, are notorious for reckless overtaking, loud distractions and a callous disregard for passenger safety. This culture of indiscipline did not emerge overnight, it has been nurtured by years of turning a blind eye. Public education must go beyond posters and slogans. It must be persistent, targeted, and reinforced from the classroom to the licensing office. New drivers must be trained not just in how to operate a vehicle, but in how to respect human life. Licenses should not be handed out like tokens; rigorous testing and continuous renewal processes must be mandatory.
Road deaths in Guyana have reached the level of a public health crisis. Every statistic represents a human being. Behind each headline is a grieving family and a community in mourning. This is not an issue that can wait until after the election cycle. It requires urgent, sustained, and coordinated action now.
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- Editorial, Fatal accidents, Road Fatalities, roadways, Safe Road Initiative, speeding, wreckless driving
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