There has been an increase in the number of road fatalities so far for the year, compared to the January-March period last year, while an overall decrease of 3% in serious crimes has been recorded at the end of March 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, data released by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday revealed.
The GPF said in a statement that in relation to traffic, there has been an increase of 6 road fatalities at the end of March 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012, with 28 fatalities from 26 accidents in 2013 compared to 22 fatalities from 21 accidents during 2012. The period January 1 to March 31, 2013, saw reduction in relation to other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage.
So far, motor cyclists have been the main road users affected with 7 such persons having lost their lives at the end of March 2013. In addition, 6 pedestrians, 6 pedal cyclists, 5 drivers of motor vehicles, and 4 passengers of motor vehicles also lost their lives. The data reveals that speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of death of 21 of the 26 fatal accidents recorded up to the end of March 2013.
The statement said that there has been an overall decrease of 3% in serious crimes has been recorded at the end of March 2013 in comparison to the same period in 2012. The total number of reports of serious crimes made between January 1 and March 31, 2013 was 948 compared to 976 for the same period in 2012. Some of the offences monitored as serious crimes are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, larceny from the person, break and entering and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
There was one less murder in the period as compared to last year. A total of 27 murders were recorded at the end of March 2013 in comparison to 28 murders for the same period in 2012; a 4% decrease.
