Speed cameras to become fully operational on Demerara River Bridge by Thursday – Traffic Chief

Drivers who fail to adhere to the speed limit on the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge will begin receiving speeding tickets from Thursday, as newly installed speed cameras and radar systems become fully operational.

Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh said on Wednesday that the system is already working and is undergoing final certification, which is expected to be completed within 24 hours. The speed limit on the bridge is 80 km/h.

“It is working. It will be certified in 24 hours counting from today (Wednesday) and by tomorrow (Thursday) morning it will be fully functional with tickets being issued to each speeding motorist who exceeds the limit that prevails at the space at the time,” Singh told the News Room.

Once certified, tickets will be automatically generated for those who exceed the posted speed limits on the bridge.

According to Singh, the enforcement initiative is aimed at addressing persistent speeding, as drivers frequently take advantage of open stretches of the bridge to travel at excessive speeds.

“Drivers would take every opportunity in every space to speed unnecessarily, leading to accidents which could have been prevented,” he said.

The speed radar signs form part of broader traffic-calming measures intended to improve compliance and reduce the severity of crashes.

“The speed radar signs are traffic-calming measures which help to align and establish speed limits and allow drivers to make adjustments when needed,” Singh added.

He noted that the bridge’s design and long span make it particularly susceptible to speeding, necessitating strict enforcement.

“This bridge, owing to its design and the span, has the potential for drivers to speed. Speeding leads to most of our accidents, and placing the emphasis on safety is important,” he told the News Room.

The rollout of speed cameras and radar speed signs on the bridge is part of a wider road-safety initiative led by the National Data Management Authority in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force.

Under the Government’s Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS), launched earlier this year, radar-enabled cameras detect and record speeding violations in real time, while electronic speed signs serve as traffic-calming tools by increasing driver awareness.

Once a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit, the SRIS platform automatically generates a ticket. Motorists whose contact details are registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority will receive notifications via SMS or email, while others will receive physical tickets delivered to their registered addresses.