Dear Editor,
The traffic situation in Guyana is more complex than meets the eye. The police traffic department says talking on cell phones while driving, speeding, overloading and driving under the influence are some of the key factors pushing up road fatalities, although there seems to be an increase in single vehicle accidents which includes crashes into stationary objects and canals. Research into traffic fatalities in developing countries (including Guyana) has consistently shown that motor cyclists are an especially vulnerable group of road users deserving of special attention.
There are many factors which affect the traffic situation in Guyana, among them the practice of selling drivers’ licences and the vast number of poorly regulated vehicles which operate as taxis and minibuses on a daily basis. It has been found that in developing countries where minibuses and taxis are responsible for transporting the majority of the population, there is usually a super- abundance of vehicles randomly entering the transport pool, and creating economic turbulence for seasoned operators. Some countries which immediately come to mind are India, Colombia, South Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and Suriname. Unlike countries with well-regulated transportation systems, in Guyana many drivers are constrained to work longer hours to achieve set targets. Very often when government officials say that all drivers are doing is trying to fill their pockets, they are usually making a political statement to absolve themselves from blame.
There are some specific coping behaviours which have been observed among minibus drivers including the use of energy drinks, stout, marijuana and cocaine. Owing to the long hours worked by many minibus drivers – twelve hours – and given their compromised nutrition since most eat on the streets until they get home, many drivers lack the physical resilience to perform adequately under even mild stress, which is bound to have a negative effect on their judgment and performance over time.
Statistics on road crashes have estimated that every year more than 1.2 million people die in road crashes around the world. The majority of these deaths, about 70 per cent, occur in developing countries. Sixty-five per cent of deaths involve pedestrians and 35 per cent of pedestrian deaths are children. Over 10 million people are crippled or seriously injured each year. Recent projections have revealed that at least 6 million more will die and 60 million will be injured during the next 10 years in developing countries unless urgent action is taken.
Several studies undertaken by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Harvard Univer-sity and the World Bank showed that in 1990, traffic crashes were assessed to be the world’s ninth most important health hazard. The study forecast that by the year 2020, road crashes would move up to third place in the table of leading causes of death and disability facing the world community. According to WHO the total monetary cost of traffic accidents in the developing world per annum, is three times the combined total amount of international aid to developing nations annually.
Several drivers are of the view that there needs to be a legitimate pathway for persons who are faced with reading challenges to study and pass the theoretical driving examination, such as the one developed by the Ratan Tata Trust of India. According to these drivers, the regular route at the moment is for those persons to purchase their driver’s licence. Others have suggested a recertification exercise every five years, while some support the introduction of psychological testing for persons seeking to obtain a driver’s licence.
During 2007, Mr. Ronald Thwaites, Opposition Member from Central Kingston in Jamaica, tabled a private member’s motion calling for the re-certification of all holders of driver’s licences every 15 years. He argued that rampant indiscipline, incapacity and defective vehicles had been identified as major contributory causes of road accidents in Jamaica. Psychological tests for drivers have been introduced in Poland as an element of preventive action to enhance traffic safety while reducing the high number of vehicle accidents in the country.
It is my view that a robust public education programme for all road users should be introduced, which should include a further education component for errant drivers such as the Road Rageous programme created by psychologists Dr Leon James and Dr Arnold Nerenberg to address the causes of aggressive driving. The justice system in the US has been using Road Rageous for the retraining of offending drivers. The training course addresses the main causes of accidents –negative driving habits and attitudes. Today this training methodology is used throughout the United States.
Many drivers have criticized the instructional quality and methodology of police driving instructors as outdated, and I suggest that a new comprehensive driving course be developed for Guyana, one which addresses driving from a professional standpoint. In addition, the authorities should consider the introduction and vigorous enforcement of a Demerit Point System for traffic violators, which could result in the suspension or revocation of their licence for repeat offenders.
Yours faithfully,
Clairmont Featherstone
