With just 50 days completed for this year so far, at least 13 people have died as a result of traffic accidents on the country’s roadways with a similar number injured. Some may have suffered minor injuries, while others may be facing temporary or permanent disability. In addition damage to vehicles and other property can cost millions of dollars.
Road accidents occur every day, and many of these accidents are preventable if road users (drivers and pedestrians alike) would only adhere to rules and signs. These include no drinking and driving, only hands-free use of cellular phones while operating a vehicle, observing speed limits, no running of red lights, observing major roads and one way streets, using pedestrian and traffic crossings where available and paying heed to the five Cs.
Instances where accidents might not be preventable would be those where animals (not the ones behind the wheel) are involved. But even then, if care and caution are exercised, drivers can avoid hitting the animals that constantly roam the streets of this country.
As at February 4 this year, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 413 animals—cows, goats, horses and sheep—had been impounded by the various stray catching units which had recommenced their operations on January 2. The Georgetown unit, the release issued by the ministry said, accounted for 88 cows, 58 goats and 33 sheep.
There has as yet been no release relating to the number of hogs that would have been caught, news that law-abiding road users would welcome. Guyana has more than its fair share of road hogs. These selfish and aggressive drivers can be observed committing infractions daily. They run red lights, cut off other drivers, straddle two lanes, turn single lanes into double, force drivers off the road, misuse high beam lights – the list is endless. Usually when these violations are committed there is no traffic officer in sight; only rarely are these careless drivers caught in the act, which means they must keep a keen eye out for the men and women in blue.
Globally, road crashes kill some 1.3 million people a year, more than the number killed by tuberculosis or malaria. According to a report in The Economist magazine last month, of that figure, a staggering 1.2 million deaths occur in poor and middle income countries. Developed (rich) countries, the magazine said, have contained road fatalities through the use of technology such as “alcolocks, which prevent drunk driving” and by imposing and enforcing safety measures, including stringent laws the breaking of which draw heavy fines and prison sentences. In short, they have found ways of harnessing the hogs.
The Economist suggests that making roads safer, which need not cost a lot, could see a reduction in the road fatality figures. It pointed to measures such as footpaths for pedestrians on busy roads, well-designed junctions, education as regards the use of seatbelts and helmets and the enforcement of the laws particularly with respect to speeding and drunk driving.
Enforcement is likely to be a trifle difficult here. As has been stated ad nauseam in this column and even as recently as last week, driving while drunk is a major issue in this country. Yet it is an infraction that is committed with impunity by members of the government and the Guyana Police Force. Who then is going to enforce the law? The traffic constable who might be tempted to accept a small piece and look the other way rather than make a case that might not even reach the court?
Enforcement will only be possible when we get to the stage where anyone who breaks the law faces the penalty regardless of who that person is. That will mean a major shift away from the current culture. Until then, it is likely that the hogs will rule the roads.
