Guyana’s Traffic Chief Linden Isles is calling for persons to come forward with information regarding a viral video which shows the reckless behavior of a mini-bus driver and his conductor.
The video which was shared today, shows a conductor dancing to music in a moving mini-bus with its door wide open. In the background, passengers were heard laughing at his action.
But to make matters worse, in that same video, the driver of the mini-bus at one point flips both of his feet outside the moving vehicle, as he drove along the railway embankment.
The video which went viral minutes after it was shared on various social media platforms.
The traffic chief said having looked carefully at the video, he has been unable to identify any marking on the bus that might lead to its owners.
“We can’t see the number (for the bus) that the persons were in. What we can see there, I would call stupidity because persons are seeing what is going on, on our roadways and that is nonsense,” Isles told News Source in an invited comment.
He said members of the public who may have witnessed the irresponsible behaviour could share whatever information they have with the Police.
“The only way we could take action is if we get the information and information goes with an identification mark…police can’t see everything and without the help of the members of the public and the various stakeholders, we are nowhere. If a report is made we can take action,” he added.
The traffic chief has described the incident as reckless and irresponsible and noted that both the driver and the conductor could face the law for “failing to ensure the safety of persons in that bus (passengers).
Isles said, “We would encourage persons to come forward with whatever information so that we could find those individuals and have them dealt with by the law.”
Earlier this year, Isles noted the attitude of drivers and speeding on the roadway contributes to a variety of accidents that lead to prosecutions.
“We continue to educate and enforce the laws, so there will come a time when persons will realise that their attitude will have to change,” the traffic chief said.
There has been a 20.8% increase in fatal accidents and a 19.2% increase in deaths resulting from fatal accidents for the period of January 1 to April 3, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period last year, according to statistics last released from the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Coordinator of the Guyana National Road Safety Council Ramona Doorgen said she was extremely surprised when the video was shared with her today.
“We would like to know who is the persons behind this and we would like to talk to them. I don’t think they understand how serious the job they are doing and there is a code of conduct that must be followed and this is shameful coming from our public transportation system,” she told News Source.
Deaths from road traffic crashes are among the top 10 causes of death in Guyana. It is the number one cause of death among persons between the ages of 5 – 14 and the second cause of death among persons ages 15 – 24.
The most recent statistic indicates that in 2018 there were 90 crashes and 2019, 91. While in 2018 there were 103 deaths caused by these crashes and the same for 2019. Three children died in 2018 and so far in 2019 seven have died.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login