World Bank says road fatalities ‘unacceptably high’ in Guyana

Nov 27, 2025 News

– backs major push to fix deadliest corridors

(Kaieteur News) – As Guyana marks National Road Safety Month, under the theme “Careful Driving Saves Lives,” the World Bank is sounding the alarm that the country’s road death rate – 15 per 100,000 people remains “unacceptably high.”

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips recently confirmed a staggering toll: 574 crashes and 642 deaths between 2020 and 2024, including 24 children – a road crisis this country can no longer ignore, according to the World Bank’s Resident Representative for Guyana, Diletta Doretti. Writing in an OP:ED column Doretti said Guyana has now set an ambitious national target: reducing annual road fatalities to fewer than 50 by 2030. That goal, she said forms part of a new national safety initiative and one that will be partially backed by the World Bank’s latest investment.

World Bank says road fatalities ‘unacceptably high’ in Guyana

Diletta Doretti, World Bank Group Resident Representative for Guyana

Last October Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and World Bank Vice President Susana Cordeiro Guerra formalised financing for the Integrated Transport Corridors Project—a major upgrade of Guyana’s road network. The project aims to strengthen key routes across Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, improving safety, climate resilience, and access to essential services such as schools, hospitals, and markets. According to the Bank, this is not a simple “roads project.” It is a public-safety intervention aimed at protecting drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, senior citizens, children, and people with disabilities, Doretti wrote.

Doretti said by increasing connectivity across Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10, the project will enhance access to markets, education and healthcare facilities, benefiting all road users, whether drivers, pedestrians, cyclists or vulnerable groups, such as children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Notably, she said the project aligns with the Safe System approach, an internationally accepted vision that designs roads to protect lives even when mistakes happen. This involves implementing practical changes, such as safer crossings, traffic calming measures, crash barriers, and sidewalks and bike lanes, that enhance pedestrian safety.

“These initiatives represent more than technical enhancements for Guyana; they are critical safety interventions. With speeding as a leading cause of road fatalities, measures targeting speed control, traffic calming, awareness, and safer school zones are a direct response to the country’s realities,” the Bank’s representative said. According to the World Bank, between mid-2018 and mid-2023, it financed projects provided safer roads for 65 million people worldwide. In Tanzania, similar corridor upgrades cut fatalities by 79%, while in Iraq, improvements along major routes reduced crash deaths by 81%.

“The project also incorporates adaption measures, such as elevated embankments, enhanced drainage, and nature-based solutions, to ensure roads remain safe during extreme weather conditions. Guyana’s road standards will also be updated to reflect the latest global best practices adapted to local conditions. Beyond concrete and asphalt, the project invests in people, providing certified training for women in road construction and maintenance, challenging stereotypes, and fostering inclusive progress,” Doretti stated. She added: “As Guyana observes Road Safety Month, it is essential to remember the impact infrastructure has on shaping society’s future. The Integrated Transport Corridors Project demonstrates Guyana’s commitment to building not only better roads, but a future where safe, inclusive, and sustainable progress is the standard. The road toward a future where no one loses their life on Guyana’s roads is possible. As the Prime Minister affirmed, “Guyana’s roads should not inspire fear; they should unite communities, enable commerce, and bring families safely to their destinations.”

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Careful Driving Saves Lives, National Road Safety Month, Road Fatalities, unacceptably high, World Bank

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