As the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) intensifies its efforts to curb speeding on the Heroes Highway along the East Bank Demerara corridor, some 26 drivers have been issued with speeding tickets; and one has been charged for failing to comply with police directions; another has been charged for abusive language; another has been charged for obscure registration plate; and yet another for tinted motor vehicle; thus bringing the total number of cases to 30.
The exercise was conducted by Corporal Thomas and Constable Jones between 07:00h and 09:00h on Thursday, December 5. 
Earlier in the month, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had announced that law enforcement officials would be moving to suspend the licences of drivers who have been caught speeding more than three times along the Heroes Highway.
This new penalty comes in light of the increasing recklessness exhibited on Guyana’s roadways, particularly by trucks and public transportation operators.
As currently obtains, the law provides for the suspension of licences, and President Ali has asked the Traffic Chief, the Police Commissioner, and other top brass of the Guyana Police Force to take immediate steps to have this law implemented.
It has been reported that, for the year thus far, some 893 tickets have been issued to drivers who have been caught on camera speeding along the Heroes Highway.
The Head of State has noted, in regard to the tickets issued, that the authorities would be tasked with examining each case to determine who committed the offence more than three times, after which the police would move to suspend the licences of those persons.
In addition to the clampdown, President Ali has announced that Government would soon be moving to publicize speed advisories and erect digital boards to indicate the speed of drivers along major roadways.
It has been reported that 99 persons have lost their lives in fatal accidents so far for the year 2024, compared to 148 in 2023. In addition, 263 serious accidents, 366 minor accidents, and 1039 damage accidents have been recorded thus far for 2024, bringing the total number of accidents to 1767, compared to 2491 that occurred last year.
As part of a stepped-up effort to reduce traffic violations this year, the GPF has issued approximately 60,000 tickets, totalling an astounding $400 million in traffic fines.
Government has only recently made amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, as well as to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill, in order to toughen up penalties for drunk drivers, and the bars that serve them.
Among other things, the legislative changes make causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.
The penalty for driving while over the legally allowed limit of alcohol in the blood system has been changed from a $7500 fine to now $200,000, and the concomitant sentence has been increased from 12 months to 24 months.
The penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of a vehicle is 12 months’ imprisonment; and the accompanying fine, which used to be from $30,000 to $60,000, has now been increased to $200,000 for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.
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