For the year so far, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in fatal accidents in Berbice and Traffic Chief of ‘B’ Division Boodnarine Persaud has linked this to the high number of persons charged and prosecuted for traffic violations.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Persaud highlighted that 11,825 persons have been prosecuted for road violations for the year in Berbice. This number includes 5,567 for speeding and 354 for drinking and driving.
He said, “If we should look at the accident rate generally, we do have a reduction in accidents by 7.8%”. There have only been half as many road fatalities compared with the same period last year, Persaud said. The division, thus far, has recorded eight fatal accidents resulting in eight deaths, in comparison with 11 fatal accidents with 16 deaths in 2015.
However, according to Persaud, as regards serious accidents there has been an increase. He disclosed that for the year thus far, the division has recorded 50 serious accidents in comparison to 31 serious accidents last year. Almost everyone involved in the serious accidents recorded for the year is currently in a stable condition, he added.
He stressed that although driving while intoxicated and speeding are the main causes of accidents, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians contributed to the increase in serious accidents, as they have been using the road carelessly.
Persaud said, “We had a lot of accidents, where pedestrians were using the road badly, by crossing in the path of approaching vehicles, sometimes under the influence of alcohol. Also, we had pedal cyclists turning across the road, and some of them do not have lights. So apart from the drivers, we do have a lot of instances where pedestrians and pedal cyclists use the road carelessly.”
He called on all road users to pay attention to road safety. According to Persaud, road users need to understand, that when they follow the rules they not only protect themselves, but other road users as well, He further called on drivers to adhere to road laws and stop driving under the influence and for motorcyclists to always wear their helmets. He stressed that most times when a motorcyclist is in an accident, he/she either dies or is injured severely because he/she was not wearing a helmet. Persaud charged pedestrians to adhere to the road laws as well.
