Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn during a road safety over the weekend related that some 44 young men would have lost their lives due to vehicular accidents along Guyana’s roadway so far in 2024.
Benn speaking to participants at the annual Road Safety Public Education Awareness Motorcade and Walk stated that based on statistics issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) over 40 young men lost their lives on the roadway this year.
“The statistics speak for themselves. We have forty-four (44) young men who have died on our roads this year so far who have not worn helmets others who persons have run into them.”
In fact, Minister Benn explained that overall studies show that the younger population accounts for the majority of fatal accidents in the country. He noted that these persons are often between the ages of 18 to 35.
“The other disturbing statistic is that we have the greater proportion of persons dying or the younger persons between 18 to 35 who make up the larger proportion of those persons who are dying on the roads. We have to think and speak to each other about doing the right thing and doing the right thing is something some of us particularly the younger ones, some who have just come out of school and perhaps have not learned enough or experienced enough.”
Notably, Minister Benn explained that road accidents not only result in the loss of lives but have a severe impact on the economy. In fact, the minister revealed that last year road accidents cost over $700 million.
“Every road death instantly impacts our national income by more than $8 million but we want to remember that the people who die should not be and should not be considered as mere statistics.”
Moreover, to reduce carnage on the nation’s roadways, Minister Benn highlighted that the Home Affairs Ministry in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has developed several initiatives as part of efforts to promote road safety.
“The Do The Right Thing campaign intends to fan out across all the regions in the country it intends to raise the Do The Right Thing flag in all communities, and major towns in our country. We intend to have flash mobs, media coverage, and skits. We intend to give up caps and buttons in the schools and on the streets. We intend to give out the minibus drivers and the taxi drivers and the motorcyclists and yes we intend to give out 1000 helmets to motorcyclists again with the intention and hope that they use them.”
Only last week, the GPF recorded an unprecedented $400 million in traffic fines this year, with nearly 60,000 tickets issued as part of an intensified campaign to curb road infractions. Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh had stated that nearly 60,000 tickets were issued with over 47,000 related to speeding, accounting for around $280 million of the total revenue garnered from fines.
Fines for infractions like drunk driving and unsafe vehicle maintenance also contributed significantly to the total.
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