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Road Carnage
(Kaieteur News) – In recent weeks, Guyana’s roadways have once again been stained with grief. Fatal accidents, many of them shocking in their brutality have claimed lives and shattered families across the country. Each incident is followed by the same cycle: outrage, mourning, promises of investigation, and then silence until the next tragedy occurs.
The pattern has become disturbingly familiar, and unless decisive action is taken, the nation risks accepting road deaths as an unavoidable consequence of development.
This must not happen.
The increase in accidents comes at a time when Guyana is experiencing unprecedented economic expansion. Roads are being widened, new highways constructed, and the movement of heavy equipment and materials has intensified. Trucks laden with sand, stone, and construction supplies dominate major arteries, particularly along the East Bank, East Coast, and other key corridors. These vehicles are vital to the nation’s infrastructure boom, but they have also become a recurring feature in many of the recent fatal crashes.
Too often, these trucks are overloaded, poorly maintained, or driven recklessly. Speeding, dangerous overtaking, and disregard for basic road safety rules are common complaints from motorists and residents alike. Add to this the presence of underage or unlicensed drivers behind the wheel of heavy-duty vehicles, and the situation becomes even more alarming.
The reality is that Guyana may be standing on the brink of a road safety catastrophe if current trends continue.
What is most troubling is that many of these dangers are neither new nor unavoidable. The laws governing road safety already exist. Regulations for vehicle weight limits, licensing requirements, speed restrictions, and general road conduct are well established. The problem lies not in the absence of rules but in the failure to enforce them consistently.
Enforcement must be constant, nationwide, and non-negotiable.
Overloaded trucks must be stopped, weighed, and penalized—every time. Speeding trucks must be pulled over—every time. Drivers who are underage, unlicensed, or otherwise unqualified must be removed from the road—every time. There can be no favours, no compromises, and no quiet “ease ups” for offenders who put the public at risk.
Selective enforcement does little to change behaviour. Making an example of one or two drivers while dozens of others continue to break the law sends a weak and ineffective message. What is required instead is a visible, sustained campaign of road policing that leaves no doubt about the consequences of reckless conduct.
The Guyana Police Force therefore has a crucial role to play. Road safety cannot be treated as an occasional exercise carried out after a high-profile accident. It must become a permanent, visible presence across the country’s highways and urban roads. Regular patrols, random checks, speed monitoring, and strict enforcement of licensing requirements are all essential.
But enforcement alone will not solve the problem.
Contractors and companies involved in the construction boom must also accept their share of responsibility. Many of the country’s roadways currently pass through active construction zones where traffic patterns are disrupted and visibility is compromised. In these environments, safety measures are not optional extras; they are essential safeguards.
Too often, however, construction sites are poorly managed. Warning signs are inadequate or absent, barriers are missing, reflective markers are insufficient, and lighting at night is dangerously poor. In some areas, motorists encounter sudden changes in road alignment or unexpected obstacles without any prior warning.
Such negligence is unacceptable.
Signs, cones, flagmen, reflectors, and proper lighting are indispensable tools for protecting the travelling public. When these measures are ignored or poorly implemented, construction zones become death traps rather than symbols of progress.
Contractors who fail to maintain safe worksites must therefore be held accountable. Penalties for non-compliance should be swift and severe, because the consequences of negligence on a busy roadway can be fatal.
Ultimately, Guyana stands at a critical point in its development. The nation’s growth is rapid, visible, and in many ways exciting. New infrastructure promises improved connectivity, economic opportunity, and a higher standard of living for citizens.
But development must never come at the cost of human life.
The roads of this country must not be transformed into sacrifice zones in the name of progress. Every fatal accident represents not just a statistic, but a life cut short and a family plunged into grief.
The time has therefore come for decisive action grounded in discipline, responsibility, and respect for life. Authorities must enforce the law with consistency and courage. Contractors must treat public safety as a fundamental obligation rather than an afterthought.
If these steps are taken, Guyana can stem the rising tide of road tragedies. If they are ignored, the death toll will continue to climb—and the responsibility for that grim outcome will rest squarely on the shoulders of those entrusted with protecting the public.
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One thought on “Road Carnage”
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
Time for Guyana Police to take back control of the roads, by constantly,
effectively patrolling them, day and night- removing everyone, vehicle for
all infractions of road regulations, even minor ones.
Since no one observes the 80 km speed limit- it is time to LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT.