‘Give people tickets on the road’ – Benn tells traffic ranks

In an attempt to prevent allegations of police harassment, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn encouraged traffic ranks to issue tickets for traffic violations on the road and not subject drivers to visiting police stations.

Benn was speaking at the launch of the Road Safety Council Magazine and Website ‘The Right Turn’ on Monday night.

“Our traffic police have to pay attention to give people tickets on the road and not tell people to go to the station where there is a lot of wastage time of time [and] presumably harassment,” Minister Benn said to loud applause from those in attendance at the launch.

He noted that speeding and driving under the influence remain a concern and that the government is working to bring about significant changes to the road culture in Guyana. He alluded to using private companies to tow vehicles disrupting traffic and parked illegally.

“I have been thinking about outsourcing the towing services to private people so that the double parking, and the blocking of people on the roadways will reduce a lot of congestion.

“If we outsource that activity, it will go a long way along with the backup of the Police Force in making our city, our roadways safer, less congested and less stressful,” Minister Benn stated.

But beyond drinking and driving and speeding, Minister Benn noted that minibus and taxi operators’ reckless culture of using the road must also change.

“We have to pay attention to the culture that we ourselves as adults pass on to the next generation – the vulgar music, the drinking of Heineken, the texting while driving – these are normal things in the way we operate on the road,” Benn said.

Meanwhile, The Right Turn is a 60 pages publication that comprises a series of helpful road safety information, articles, advisories, messages, facts, traffic laws and photographs, providing another way educate citizens on road safety in Guyana.

Some 5,000 magazines were printed for free distribution to schools and universities, Ministries, NDCs, NGOs, private & public transport drivers, companies and all stakeholders.