28 died in road accidents for the year so far

Twenty-eight people have died in road accidents across the country between January 1 and March 21, 2026, with a majority of the fatal crashes linked to speeding.

Statistics provided to the News Room revealed that speeding was a factor in 18 of the fatal accidents recorded so far this year, making it the leading cause of deadly collisions.

The victims include 12 motorcyclists, eight pedestrians and six drivers, along with one car occupant and one pedal cyclist.

A total of 27 vehicles were involved in the fatal crashes, 16 of which were motorcars.

It was also disclosed that most of the fatal accidents occurred between 18:00 hrs and 23:59 hrs and that males accounted for the overwhelming majority of victims, with 23 males and five females losing their lives.

Most of the victims were between the ages of 25 and 42.

In an interview with the News Room, Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh said despite the deaths, there has been a 26 per cent decrease in the overall number of accidents nationwide for the period when compared to the same period last year.

He attributed the reduction to several measures implemented by the Guyana Police Force, including increased deployment of traffic ranks, consistent enforcement, public education campaigns, and the rollout of the Safe Road Intelligence System.

“When you look at the Safe Road Intelligence System, as that unfolds across all the regions, that will definitely play a big role. It is already playing one,” Singh said.

The Traffic Chief explained that speeding often becomes deadly when drivers fail to consider road surface conditions, weather, animals or other vehicles on the roadway.

In many cases, he said motorists lose control while attempting to brake suddenly, causing vehicles to overturn and leading to severe injuries or death.

While law enforcement will continue to strengthen its operations, Singh stressed that motorists must also take personal responsibility for their actions.

“Motorists must also play a critical role. They have to recognise that their behaviour must be altered.

“I would want to encourage the public to be more law-abiding… to be voluntarily compliant is a must,” Singh urged.

He emphasised that reducing road deaths requires a combined effort from both authorities and the public, warning that waiting until a crash occurs to change behaviour often comes at a tragic cost.