By Malisa Playter Harry
The county of Berbice has seen a significant decrease of lives lost on the roadways for the first half of 2016. The Traffic Chief of B’ Division has given credit to the large amount of persons being put before the courts, charged and prosecuted for road violations.
During an interview with News Room, Traffic Chief of ‘B’ Division, Bhudnarine Persaud, he stated that for the year 2016 the division has had eight fatal accidents with eight deaths in comparison to 11 fatal accidents with 16 deaths in the first half of 2015, accounting for a 50% decrease.
He, however, pointed out that there was an increase in serious accidents, pushing the figure to 50 compared to 31 the previous year. He cited the major reason for serious accidents being driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding: something he said the traffic department has been clamping down on.
11,825 persons have been prosecuted for road violations for the year 2016 in Berbice. 354 persons have been prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 5,567 persons have been prosecuted for speeding.
Persaud however, stated that there have been instances where pedestrians and pedal cyclists are being careless on the roadways.
The Traffic Chief further highlighted some of the things the Division has been doing in an effort to reduce road fatalities and road violations. He said they have been involved in a road safety educational program which includes drivers’ seminars. They have also partnered with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club to assist in printing road safety flyers.
Recently, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud disclosed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has recorded “an increase of 18% of road fatalities when compared to last year.”
He too highlighted the major contributory factors to road accidents across the country as driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.
The Commissioner said the police force had 14,214 cases of speeding and that has represented an increase of 21.4 percent for the corresponding last year. Additionally, there has been 990 cases of driving under the influence were recorded which amounts to a 90 percent increase when compared to the rates last year.
The Police Traffic Department has been doing siren campaigns among others to address the issues of road fatalities, speeding, and other traffic violations.
