Police face challenges when prosecuting electric bike users involved in accidents

The daily use of electric bikes on main roadways has been on the rise in Guyana and it is now common to see these vehicles in Georgetown and other parts of the country.

However, there is no law that regulates the use of electric bikes locally and recent accidents involving electric bikes have raised concerns about the use of the mode of transportation.

Traffic Chief Superintendent Dennis Stephens related that the Guyana Police Force has observed that a large number of persons in Regions Six and Three use these bikes.

What is worrisome is the number of children seen riding these bikes on the roadways with little knowledge of road usage.

When these electric bikes are involved in fatal and serious accidents along the road, prosecuting the persons involved has proved challenging for the Guyana Police Force.

“In most time the police have challenges, when we seek legal advice, it would be private action because our laws do not cater for those e-cycles.

“When persons die as a result of using these cycles it mostly goes as an inquest because our laws do not cater for these cycles,” the Traffic Chief related.

He highlighted that engagements on a possible ban of electric bikes in busy public spaces are currently ongoing.

“There are some engagements with GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority], we are looking and seeking advice to see what can be done. We are also seeking some advice from the Ministry of Legal Affairs to see what can be done,” the Traffic Chief said.

He explained that they are looking at other countries to see what laws they have in place, noting that in many countries electric bikes are banned and used only in industrial locations.

There are proposals on the table to implement rules such as an age limit for the use of these bikes – no person under 16 will be able to use these bikes; only one person will be allowed on the bikes; it must be registered; persons must adhere to the recommended weight limit; a helmet should be used and the rider must also possess a valid driver’s license. Rules for how these bikes utilise the road is also being developed.

“For example, a person who has a driver’s license know they have to drive on the left side of the road, they have to overtake on the right-hand side, most users of this category [electric bikes], they are not ofay with the laws so that is why they make mistakes,” the Traffic Chief said.