A GINA release, August 18, 2003

“Use the road with care.” This is the motto of the Traffic department and towards this end there is an ongoing campaign for motorists to adhere to the rules and regulations of the roads.For the first half of the year the Traffic department made tremendous efforts to curb speeding. The seatbelt law and control of the heavily-tinted windows of vehicles were enforced.

Speeding is one of the main factors that has caused fatal accidents on the roads. To reduce speeding and minimize accidents; the Traffic Department acquired four new radar guns. The success of the radar guns can be seen from the following statistics: to date more than 300 drivers have been placed before the Courts for excessive speeding.
Traffic Chief Michael Harlequin has indicated that he is extremely pleased with the efforts being made by the Traffic Police.

Four locations have benefited from these guns. They are New Amsterdam, Berbice, East Coast Public Road, the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and Central Georgetown. Data from a research done by a consultant Dr. Gowkarran Budhu (deceased) has indicated that the percentage of fatality by probable causes was: alcohol five percent, speeding 21 percent, pedestrian negligence 18 percent, cyclist negligence 15 percent, driver negligence 18 percent, losing control 14 percent and improper overtaking nine percent. This research was conducted last year.

The Traffic department began its campaign to prosecute drivers who failed to comply with the seatbelt law. This Law initially was scheduled for enforcement since January 1, 2003, but drivers were given warnings and were told to have their vehicles adequately equipped with seatbelts to ensure compliance.

In May 2002, Government passed in Parliament the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2002. "Seat belt" means any arrangement or assembly of straps with a security buckle adjusting devices and attachments anchored to the motor vehicle in accordance with section 45A (7) and is designed to diminish the risk of injury to its wearer in the event of a collision or abrupt deceleration of the vehicle by limiting body movement of the wearer.

The penalty for first offenders is $7,500 and no less than $10,000 and in the case of a second or subsequent offence, a fine of $10,000 and no more than $15,000.

A driver who conveys a child and fails to ensure that the child wears a seat belt or is conveyed in a child restraint system, if found guilty, will have to pay a fine not exceeding $10,000. Since the seatbelt and helmet campaign began there has been a significant decrease in persons being prosecuted by the Traffic police.

“From my observation motorists are using their seatbelts and helmets,” said Harlequin.The following figures show that there has been a continuing decline in offenders. There were 103 persons who were placed before the Courts on the first day the Traffic department enforced the law.
However, data from the Traffic department indicates the following:

Date	Seatbelts
July 1 to July 7July	46
8 to July 14July	60
15 to July 20July	32
21 to July 26July	20
27 to August 02August	31
03 to August 9	12
August 10 to August 14	10

To sensitize the public on the importance of wearing seatbelts and helmets, several top officials from the Traffic department made promotional appearances on television programmes. Plans are being made by the Traffic department to have traffic tips televised on all the television stations countrywide. And according to Harlequin this exercise would be an ongoing one.

The Traffic department is now using tintometers to ensure the regulation on tinted windows is observed. Towards this end the department recently held a training seminar at its headquarters for staff of the Licensing Office.The aim of the exercise was to teach the staff how to use the tintometer on vehicles when drivers come in to register their vehicles.

“The equipment is used to measure the percentage of light that penetrates the windows of the vehicle,” said Traffic Chief. He explained that while tints are banned, there is a certain percentage that is accepted, that is 65 percent light penetration.
The Licensing office was the most appropriate place to use the tintometer, because drivers have to go there to renew their licences.

Under the provision of the Trade Act, Chapter 91:01, an order (No.5 of 1999) states "no person shall import into Guyana after the 4th day of April 1999 any motor vehicle which has fitted to it any glass or safety glass, or any other material used in the place of such glass or safety glass, which is so tinted or otherwise treated or coloured, in such a manner or to such extent, as would result in obstructing or in any way preventing the identification of the driver of the motor vehicle or any other person travelling in the motor vehicle by any person from outside the motor vehicle."

The Traffic department held a seminar at the Felix Austin Training School, Eve Leary for drivers of public transportation on July 14.
According to the Traffic Chief the objective of the seminar was for drivers to exercise the five C’s that is, care, caution, courtesy, common sense and consideration and to improve the attitudes of drivers on the roadways. Over seventy drivers attended the seminar.

“This illustrates that many drivers are showing interest in road safety and awareness,” said Harlequin.
Plans are afoot to have the Traffic Departments in other Police divisions countrywide to conduct such seminars. According to the Traffic Chief there will be two or more seminars that would be carried out before year-end.
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