In an effort to improve road safety for schoolchildren and cyclists, the European Union (EU) Delegation here yesterday launched its Armband Reflector initiative which will see 17,000 reflective armbands being distributed across the country.
The initiative was launched by EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto at the Kitty Roundabout.
Once worn, the flexible neon yellow reflectors will make road users more visible on the roadways.
It can be worn on either the arm or leg and will be distributed to schoolchildren who mainly utilize public transportation to and from school on a daily basis.
During his remarks, Canto said the reflectors will help improve the safety of children on the road, especially in the nights.
“Of course the best thing is to avoid walking in nights but if…you have to then you have to wear those things because the cars that pass by will see you better. This is for the children, of course but it is also for anybody who has to walk around,” he said.
Canto said the EU is determined to try to reduce the number of road accidents here. “Road safety is very important everywhere….Every person on the road has unfortunately a risk,” he said.
He urged persons to exercise care, caution, consideration, courtesy and common sense when using the roadways.
Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Earl Lambert said that there is a need to arrest the lawlessness on the road. “Government is spending a lot where infrastructure is concerned….People might be blaming the Government but we don’t blame ourselves because we use the road carelessly,” he said.
Lambert said that with the armbands, he hopes that motorists will observe children, especially those using the road at late hours in the night. “Because every life is important and we are moving into a developed country…We cannot afford to lose lives,” he added.
He urged other stakeholders to join the campaign of making the roadways a safer place for every citizen.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn said that Attorney General, Anil Nandlall is currently engaging the Ministry on measures related to driving under the influence and other matters. “To increase the penalties, increase the impost, increase the negative issues persons may have to face if we continue along this extremely dangerous path of the way we use the roads,” he said.
Another challenge which needs to be addressed is congestion, particularly in the city, Benn said. “We have to move to the point where we can all be safe,” he noted.
Over the past two years, Benn said the Government has made a number of interventions by donating reflective vests to cyclists and safety helmets. “…..The more important thing is what is in our heads? What is our approach to this issue? Whether we have the patience to use the roadways properly. Whether you have enough respect for each other in usage of the roadways, whether we could be more patient,” he noted.
In 2021, Benn said the GPF recorded less than 100 road deaths for the first time in 16 years.
He explained that the number of persons dying on the roadways per month should only be seven.
However, at the moment he said the figures has exceeded that. “Our Guyana Police Force has to work, as they are working, harder to achieve numbers below 100 road deaths per a year and also to reduce the number of incidents relating to injuries, hospital stays, loss of work and all the trauma which relates to the question of death on our roadways,” Benn said.
