In a bid to curb speeding and enhance road safety while reducing traffic violations, Guyana has amended the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act to incorporate the use of surveillance cameras.
With Guyana undergoing significant infrastructure developments aimed at improving accessibility and reducing congestion, motorists have increasingly taken advantage of these new roadways for speeding, leading to a surge in road accidents.
The amended legislation now mandates the installation of 24-hour surveillance cameras on major roadways.
These cameras are designed to capture instances where drivers exceed speed limits or fail to wear seatbelts while driving.
Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn, emphasized that the use of surveillance technology will enable law enforcement to identify offenders accurately.
According to Minister Benn, the National Data Management Agency (NDMA) will oversee the storage and management of surveillance footage, ensuring its admissibility in court proceedings.
He pointed out that road accidents have claimed hundreds of lives annually, with 175 fatalities recorded in 2023 alone.