The National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) said on Monday that it intends to lobby the government to take away the licenses of drivers who are found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The Council explained that it will also seek to have the licenses suspended for drivers who are found texting and driving too.

The announcement was made by GNRSC Chairman, Dennis Pompey as the body launched this year’s Road Safety Month on Monday, under the theme “Life does not have a reset button.”

Pompey said it was a move geared towards reducing road deaths caused by road accidents.

The proposal will be taken to the Minister of Public Security for him to discuss it at a governmental level and take action.

Meanwhile, drivers, pedestrians, and other road users are being urged to ensure they uphold their individual responsibility in road safety.

The Guyana National Road Safety Council has planned a series of activities to observe the month but it comes at a time when road deaths in Guyana are on the increase.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said it would definitely take more than a month of awareness and sensitization activities to change the current culture of recklessness.

“Lots more have to be done,” Ramjattan said as he called on road users to “abandon individual irresponsibility” at the launch of Road Safety Month on Monday.

Ramjattan said the responsibility for care and safety should not only be carried by drivers but urged even pedestrians to “do the right thing.”

He said traffic ranks must also enforce the law and seek to be good examples for other drivers on the roadway.

“I am urging please, those of you who drive and all others, let’s get this thing right,” the Minister pleaded.

“I have some solutions but some of these solutions but if and when I start to implement I will get more cuss than anyone else,” he added.
Ramjattan was supported by his colleagues, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and Junior Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson.

Dr. Roopnarine said he considered it to be utterly wasteful that so many people are dying on the roadways.

Already for 2016, 109 persons have died in road accidents.

“As legislators, we must do everything we can but it is one thing to make the laws and another to enforce them. We can pass as many laws as possible but what we need is a new culture of road safety,” he added.

A Mother’s Cry

Also making a presentation at Monday’s launch was Denise Dias from Mothers in Black/ Alicia Foundation.

Twenty years ago, Dias’ 17-year-old daughter was killed by an alleged drunk driver.

Today, she is one of the several mothers who lost their children similarly and is calling for action to end the scourge.

Dias said it is unfortunate that their pleas over the years seem to be going towards deaf ears.
She called for enforcement of road laws and called on the relevant authorities to sit and finds solutions for the problem.

“It is costing this country millions and it is absolute nonsense,” she added.

Dias said it is her hope that traffic ranks will not allow bribes to prevent them from enforcing the laws and urged that road safety education is returned to schools.

Related posts:

Police Force launches national campaign to clamp down on road accidents City Hall officially notifies Smart City Solutions of suspension of parking meter project -Town Clerk City Council votes for more time to study legal opinion against Bulkan’s suspension of parking meter by-laws Suriname bus drivers protest against bus drivers from Guyana