– fatalities set to surpass last year’s
The Ministry of Home Affairs launched its “Do the Right Thing” campaign on Friday with a focus on the upcoming National Road Safety Month in November in an effort to emphasise its goal to promote safe practices and behaviours by road users.
Speaking at a press conference in the Ministry of Home Affairs boardroom, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn called for public and institutional support, highlighting the responsibility of every Guyanese to contribute to safety and security.
The campaign aims to extend beyond road safety to include other safety and security concerns in public spaces, social media, and the press. The decision to focus on road safety, Minister Benn disclosed, was made after consultations with the National Road Safety Council.
The minister added that the campaign not only addresses the current challenges in behaviour, but in road safety, particularly the increase in road fatalities, noting that the number has increased from last year to now and is projected to surpass last year’s figure.
Benn also touched on the nexus between the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads and the corresponding increase in road accidents. He said that despite infrastructure expansion, there is still a significant amount of indiscriminate behaviour in road usage.
The minister expressed the hope that the campaign succeeds in reducing road fatalities by 2030 as required by the UN Decade of Road Safety, but lamented that current trends indicate that this goal may not be met.
“We are required by the UN in the decade of road safety, by 2030, to halve the number of deaths on our roads. Which should suggest that road death should be by 2030 somewhere around 50 deaths per year [but] at the current rate, we will not achieve that, and this is a particularly grievous data point,” Benn said.
He identified speeding, and drinking and driving as significant causes of road accidents and said that the campaign plans to work with the police to change legislation and enforcement to address these issues.
He also informed that despite a decrease in overall crashes, there has been an increase in fatalities, with 93 deaths so far this year. As such, the minister emphasised the need for immediate action to address the current situation and prevent further fatalities.
Meanwhile, Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh presented detailed statistics on road incidents, noting an increase in serious and fatal crashes involving motorcyclists. The statistics show that the most serious incidents involve pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists, highlighting the need for better road safety measures. He stressed the importance of planning ahead and using safety equipment to prevent incidents.
Minister Benn added, “If we look at the last 10 or so years, in 2014, we had 146 lives lost. In 2020 we had 139 lives lost. Then in 2022 which was the year in which we had great expectations, where 99 lives were lost, and we were very happy about that, though every life, of course, is valued. But in 2023 we had 175 lives lost, which was, despite efforts, a dramatic negative change. At the current time, we have 93 lives lost. I don’t think we have the figures for the last three days… You can lose four people… every day or two…”
He pointed out that the campaign also raises awareness about the dangers of not using safety equipment and the need for responsible behaviour on the roads.
As such, the minister highlighted the importance of the public’s cooperation in using safety equipment and following traffic rules. The campaign also plans to address issues such as the movement of construction materials and the use of high-visibility clothing for pedestrians.
Benn stressed that the campaign also aims to not only address the immediate consequences of road accidents, but also the long-term impact on public health and safety. He emphasised the need for a coordinated response from all stakeholders, including the police, public works, and the community to create a culture of safety and responsibility on the roads.
