In light of the increasing recklessness on Guyana’s roadway particularly by trucks and public transportation operators, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced that law enforcement officials will be moving to suspend the licenses of drivers who have been caught speeding more than three times along the Heroes Highway.
“We cannot continue to have this type of indiscipline on our roadways, especially with the trucks and truck drivers… we will hold truck drivers responsible. I’ve asked the AG to examine the laws to see where there are gaps so that truck owners can also have a responsibility in ensuring their drivers work within guidelines,” the president stated.
As it is now, the law provides for the suspension of licenses, and President Ali has asked the Traffic Chief, Commissioner of Police, and other top brass of the Guyana Police Force to take immediate steps to have this law implemented.
“With all the speeding that is taking place on our roadways, only 18 suspensions this year does not speak to the magnitude of the issue we have on our roadways.”
For the year thus far, some 893 speeding tickets were issued to speeding drivers who were caught on camera along the Heroes Highway.
On this note, the president stated that of the tickets issued, the authorities will be tasked with examining each case to determine who committed the offence more than three times, after which, the police will move to suspend their licences.
Adding to the clampdown, the Head of State announced that the government will soon move to publicize speed advisories and erect digital boards to indicate the speed of drivers along major roadways.
He noted, too, that additional body cameras are being procured for traffic ranks while urging better usage of CCTV footage to clamp down on errant drivers.
“Drivers on the whole, but especially those truck drivers and public transportation drivers, I’m asking you, not to do anything special. All I’m asking you to do, in the interest of saving lives, is to comply with the law, comply with the rules,” President Ali emphasized.
President Ali called for traffic ranks to better enforce the updated traffic laws pertaining to the responsibility of bar owners when it comes to selling alcohol to drivers.
According to Ali, the wording for the signage must be placed in every bar across the country. So far, he has asked the Attorney General earlier to see whether they can also amend the laws to have the licenses of bars suspended if they are not complying with this regulation and this law.
It was reported that 99 people lost their lives in fatal accidents so far for the year 2024 when compared to 148 in 2023.
In addition, 263 serious accidents, 366 minor accidents, and 1039 damage accidents were recorded thus far for 2024 bringing the total number to 1767 compared to 2491 last year.
As part of a stepped-up effort to reduce traffic violations, the force has issued around 60,000 tickets this year, totaling an astounding $400 million in traffic fines.
Only recently, the government had already made amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act as well as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill to toughen up the penalties for drunk drivers – and the bars that serve them. Among other things, the legislative changes make causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.
The penalty for driving while over the legally allowed limit of alcohol in the blood system has been changed from a $7500 fine to now $200,000, and the sentence from 12 months to 24 months. The penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle has been increased from $30,000 to $60,000 fine and 12 months’ imprisonment to now $200,000 fine for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.
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