2020 ends with 71 road deaths

Traffic accidents claimed the lives of 71 people in Suriname in 2020. This officially means that there were fewer road deaths in 2020 than 2019. Statistics indicate that there were 80 road deaths in 2019.

Helmut Gezius, chairman of the Traffic Volunteers’ Force Suriname, mentioned the traffic accident which claimed the lives of three young people when their car ended up in the ditch located along the Mohamed Rashied Pierkhanweg in the Christmas weekend. A 20yearold man who does not have a driver’s license and who was under the influence of alcohol sat behind the steering wheel of the car that ended up in the ditch. He surrendered himself to the police. Gezius pointed out that “this young man had access to a vehicle although he does not have a driver’s license.” “This probably was not the first time that he was behind the steering wheel of a car. Justice and Police must not only announce strict traffic surveillance and inspections but it must also take firm action in traffic. The traffic inspections must take place”, said Gezius who added that the inspections will catch people who are driving without a driver’s license.