Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 03, 2014 News
The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department is in discussion with the Ministry of Works to effect temporary
adjustments with respect to the traffic lights in certain sections of the city.
This was made known by Traffic Chief Hugh Denhert last month during a presentation on the police plan to control traffic in the city and its environs throughout the Christmas season.
It has been argued that some of the traffic lights in Georgetown are actually causing a build-up of traffic. Last year the two agencies experimented by shutting off a few traffic light systems at some busy intersections, allowing the traffic to regulate itself.
Many motorists praised the approach, deeming it very successful, and they have been calling for a repeat of the arrangement.
“The Traffic Department does not control the lights, but we are in discussions with them (Ministry of Works) to have the lights switched off so that it will give us a better flow of traffic,” the Traffic Chief stated.
And the traffic department appears to be still in discussions with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to restrict the movement of container trucks through busy city areas, to ease congestion.
For years, many motorists have been lamenting the congestion caused by container trucks through downtown Georgetown, and at one time the police were successful in getting members of the business community to adjust their work schedule to allow for the movement of the trucks after peak traffic hours.
“We are in discussion with the Chamber of Commerce and we’re discussing the movement of containers during certain hours of the day,” the Traffic Chief stated.
Meanwhile, with road deaths currently at an alarmingly high figure, the Guyana Police Force is once again appealing to road users to allow good sense and judgement to prevail, so that the roads can be used in a safer manner. The appeal comes just after the end of one of the deadliest road safety months, in which 16 persons lost their lives.
According to the police, the rate of motor vehicle accidents continues to be of serious concern.
“The sometimes careless use of the roads by all categories of road users results in accidents where lives are lost, injuries sustained and/or property damaged. Many of these accidents were caused by speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and inattentiveness,” the police stated.
To this end, the police have intensified enforcement of the laws, alongside education in its efforts to ensure road safety. As a result, during the past week alone, the police’s enforcement efforts have seen a number of cases being made against motorists and other persons for breach of the laws.
These include 327 cases of speeding; 27 for driving under the influence; 21 for dangerous driving, 24 for failing to wear seatbelt; 11 for using cellular phones while driving; eight for failing to wear safety helmet and six for careless driving.
And with the acquisition of new breathalysers, which have been deployed throughout the country, Christmas revelers will have to think twice before engaging in wanton drinking and driving.
A senior police official told this newspaper that the police will be very proactive in enforcing the law against drinking and driving.
“I don’t think that we would want to wait for a drunk man to just jump into his vehicle and drive before we take action. We will try to monitor the nightspots and once they see us there, we hope that those who are inclined to drink and drive will be wise,” the officer stated.
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Apr 19, 2024
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