October 19, 2024
November marks Road Safety Month in Guyana, and a series of activities have been organized to raise awareness and promote responsible behavior on the roads.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) and various stakeholders, has developed an extensive program to engage the public.
The month will begin with an inter-faith service, scheduled for 7:45 AM on Friday, November 1, at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe in Georgetown, which is open to the public.
The official launch of Road Safety Month will take place in Region Three.
Ramona Doorgen, Coordinator of the Guyana Road Safety Council, shared details about the planned activities, including a continuation of the D5 campaign, where participants can win prizes by engaging in road safety initiatives.
She also highlighted that the event will include a national road safety forum to discuss critical issues and strategies.
A key initiative during the month will involve the Guyana Police Force compiling a list of accident survivors across various regions.
Police officers and members of the National Road Safety Council will visit these survivors to offer support and assistance, aligning with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which takes place on Sunday, November 17.
Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs will honor sponsors who fund road safety activities across the country, with an award ceremony recognizing their contributions.
Statistics on road accidents have been concerning. In 2020, 129 lives were lost to road accidents, a number that decreased to 99 in 2022.
However, fatalities spiked to 175 in 2023, underscoring the importance of continued efforts to improve road safety in Guyana.
The series of events planned for Road Safety Month aim to keep the issue in the public’s focus and encourage safer driving behaviors, especially as the country strives to reduce road fatalities.