Starting immediately, the Guyana Police Force will be increasing its presence on the roadways to ensure compliance with the laws by drivers, particularly those who operate lorries and trucks.
And to ensure this is done, certifying officers, will be rotated to avoid complacency and collusion in exploiting loopholes.
This is according to Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken who on Thursday joined other senior ranks to address the use of the country’s roadways in light of recent accidents.
While enforcement is underway, Hicken highlighted that special emphasis will be placed on speeding, a major contributing factor of most accidents.
“Starting from today we are going to proceed with massive enforcement on the road.
“The Police will be enforcing but they will be taking a twist to their enforcement… our message for the truck drivers and in fact all of the vehicles users, we are coming on the road with a different mindset,” Hicken said during a live broadcast.
His urging was support by senior ranks of the Force, who joined in appealing to road users to ensure they adhere to traffic regulations and exercise the 5 C’s – Care, Caution, Consideration, Courtesy and Common Sense – when using the roads.
“I wish to urge drivers to be very defensive on the roads. Correct the mistakes of other road users to prevent accidents. We cannot continue to blame on another.
“If you don’t do that know that we are coming after you. We will ensure that we enforce the law very vigorously and we will ensure that results are obtained…to ensure that we have a safer roadway,” Deputy Commissioner (ag) ‘Operations’, Errol Watts said.
Recent statistics have revealed that for the year so far, there are 104 fatal accidents which resulted in 117 deaths.
In pleading with motorists to be cognizant on the roadways, Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent, Mahendra Singh has noted the importance of complying with speed limits.
“Drive as per the limit of speed established by the law within the space you are travelling. Give priority to the vulnerable and our pedestrians,” Singh said.
In their enforcement, the Force’s top brass highlighted that efforts will be done to ensure that the full penalty for offences, even those that are ticket able such as speeding – are imposed and full consequences are faced.
Additionally, Deputy Commissioner (ag) ‘Administration’, Ravindradat Budhram said that modifications will be done to the learner driver package to ensure every individual is catered for and drivers are more prepared to use the roadways.
A key element in combatting road carnage in awareness. To this end, Budhram said the Force has embarked on a number of initiatives. But, citizens also have to play their part.
“You should drive responsible, you should take a responsible driver whenever you are going to functions and parties to ensure that no one is injured and to reduce death on road,” Budhram said.
The post ‘Correct your mistakes, or we are coming after you’ – Police top brass to errant drivers appeared first on News Room Guyana.
