In a resolute effort to curb road accidents and save lives, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), in partnership with the Public Works Ministry and various stakeholders, has set an ambitious target: to reduce road fatalities by 50% by the year 2030.
Coordinator Ramona Doorgen detailed the multifaceted approach being taken by the council. Initiatives include providing stop signs for school bus drivers, supplying paint for road markings, and conducting road safety training for both educators and students in schools.
These proactive measures aim to instill a culture of road safety from a young age.
Kester Hinds, Manager of the Traffic, Safety, and Maintenance Department at the Public Works Ministry, outlined additional initiatives in the pipeline.
These include the installation of speed cameras along main thoroughfares and the introduction of more traffic signs, including those with multi-lingual messaging. Hinds emphasized the importance of community support in safeguarding these vital road safety assets.
Dr. Tracy Bovell, overseeing the Infectious Disease Hospital and serving as Trauma Team Training Coordinator, highlighted the critical role of healthcare in this endeavor. Dr. Bovell emphasized that the GPCH (Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation) has bolstered its trauma response protocols in light of the high incidence of injuries resulting from road accidents. The hospital is committed to doing whatever it takes to save lives and reduce the patient load.
Dr. Bovell emphasized, “You can decrease the amount of patients in the hospital by just avoiding these incidents. As of recent, we’ve restarted our trauma team training.” The plan is to train at least 100 individuals across all ten regions of the country before the end of February.
Collaboratively, the council, along with various government agencies and non-governmental organizations, are actively engaged in this concerted effort to achieve a 50% reduction in road fatalities by 2030. This initiative is driven by the sobering fact that, thus far this year, over 145 lives have been tragically lost in road accidents.
With this collective commitment, Guyana is on a mission to make its roads safer for all citizens.
Reported by Josiah Williams, NCN News