The Guyana Police Force has recorded 45 road fatalities from 36 accidents up to the end of May for this year, as compared to 44 fatalities from 41 accidents for the same period in 2014.
However, police statistics released on Friday indicated that there have been decreases in all other categories of road accidents–serious, minor and damage.
Pedestrians have been the main category of road users affected so far in road fatalities, with 16 of them having lost their lives at the end of May, 2015, the statement said, while adding that four pedal cyclists, 13 persons in motor vehicles, four motorcyclists and eight drivers also lost their lives.
Police noted that speeding has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents, having been the cause of 16 of the 36 fatal accidents up to the end of May.
Police also said traffic enforcement has resulted in a total of 21,170 cases being made against errant motorists at the end of May, comprising a total of 8,214 cases for speeding, 607 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 276 for using a cell phone while driving and 602 for failing to wear seatbelt.
They noted that to date there has been one road fatality for June, compared to seven for the same period last year.
Police also noted that the present rainy season has resulted in puddles on the roadways and a number of reports have been made of instances where motorists have driven into them and splashed water on pedestrians and other road users and then drove away without any consideration for the person affected.
The police advised motorists that such actions constitute a breach of the law under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Cap. 51:02, which states that “if any person drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he shall be guilty of an offence.” They also urged motorists to show courtesy and consideration for other road users in this regard.
