The fatal vehicular accidents on our roads is worrying

Nov 19, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

It certainly begs the question, why isn’t there a punishment for reckless, killer motorists called the “revocation of one’s license,” or some law to that effect. I am talking about reading or seeing the enforcement of some clause in the law that prohibits vehicular homicidal persons from holding a license or prohibits his or her ability to commandeer a motor able vehicle on our roads ever. I look forward to the day when I can hear such sentences being handed down to those out-of-control drivers.

As it stands, I am seeing mounting statistics of repeat offenders receiving sentences which – in its truest terms – amounts to a slap on the wrist and a clear go ahead in the continuation of the carnage. I cannot recall ever seeing a vehicular homicide offender being denied the use of his license? What I do hear are instances of innocuous jail time, but no revocation of licenses, which tells me that some of these motorists are taking the lax road laws for a joke, as well as showing scant regard for the sanctity of human life. Again I say take away their license, get them off our roads!

The wanton loss of human lives is certainly a worrying factor for all of us because our human resource is under threat, valuable lives are lost all because of some drunken or “under the influence driver,” I say under the influence of some mind-altering drug or someone who simply cannot drive. I pause here to highlight the fact that many vehicular accidents are as a result of the use of mind-altering drug use.

There are cases of drivers running into stationary objects, or drivers immolating themselves by crashing into lampposts, or simply running off highways at times when there are few vehicles on our roads. This is a frightening development and if urgent attention is not put to address these distressing occurrences, then woe betide us here in Guyana. What is going on!

So, my advice to the authorities is twofold, (a) To our hardworking Traffic cops, you observe a speeding driver navigating our highways, stop him and issue a speeding ticket forthwith! Do not wait for a fatal accident to happen, take action now! Reckless driving should never be tolerated! The name and license number of driver must be saved into a database, the reason for this is that most of these fatal accidents are caused by repeat offenders.

And as highlighted before, a total cancellation of their licensing privileges. If no such law is in force, then enact laws to this effect to stop the carnage, the time to act is now!

Respectfully,

Neil  Adams

• accidents, killer, motorists, Neil Adams, reckless, vehicular