Fatal accidents down

-police

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported a 7.4% decrease in the occurrence of fatal accidents at the end of July, 2018.

In addition, serious, minor and damage accidents have also decreased by 22%, 36% and 14%, respectively.

Statistics released by the GPF on Friday showed 50 fatal accidents for the year, up to the end of July, which resulted in the deaths of 57 persons, including two children, compared with 54 fatal accidents recorded in the same period last year, when there were 59 deaths, including that of one child.

Speeding, which was responsible for 26, was the leading cause of fatal accidents from January to July, 2018, followed by the failure to conform to road signs (09), pedestrians crossing in the path of approaching vehicles (08), inattentiveness (06) and speeding coupled with driving under the influence of alcohol (01).

Pedestrians, with 22 deaths, accounted for the majority of road users killed in the fatal accidents, followed by pedal cyclists (13), passengers in cars (11), motorcyclists (06,) minibus passengers (02), drivers (01), pillion riders (01) and bicycle passenger (1).

The GPF also stated that its enforcement of traffic laws remains continuous countrywide, with special emphasis on driving under the influence, speeding, music/breach of condition of road service licence, overloaded minibuses, use of cellular phones while driving, unlicensed use of vehicles as taxis and failure to wear safety helmets.