PNC/R not in support of reinstating 2 AM curfew

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has responded to media reports quoting the Alliance For Change (AFC) and its former leader Khemraj Ramjattan, who proposed reinstating the 2 AM curfew as a measure to reduce road accidents and fatalities intimating it is unconvinced that this proposal alone will suffice and stresses the need for a holistic, data-driven strategy.
“Without any empirical data or statistical analysis, the PNCR cannot support the AFC’s proposal,” according to the party in a public statement today.
The party by way of a public statement today recalled that in a press conference held on July 19, 2024, the PNC/R outlined its comprehensive framework to address the escalating road accident crisis, emphasising the necessity of urgent and multifaceted government action.
The PNCR echoed the widespread concern among Guyanese regarding the alarming increase in road accidents, injuries, and fatalities. This crisis, affecting all roadways and types of users—from pedestrians and motorcyclists to drivers of cars, buses, and trucks—requires a robust and systematic response.
“The government’s response thus far has failed to inspire public confidence,” the PNCR “We are calling on the government to adopt a minimum set of actions grounded in data and evidence.”
To this end the PNCR said it believes that addressing congestion and road deaths needs to be tackled within a policy framework that is data-driven. The [arty as such has called for an urgent review of traffic accident statistics to determine the range of causes for accidents and their relative contributions, including factors such as speeding, driver inattention, driving under the influence, animal and vehicle conflict, pedestrian and vehicle conflict, fixed object crashes, and intersection crashes.
The party as such advocates for safety audits on major roads like Essequibo Coast Road, West Coast and West Bank Demerara Roads, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, East Coast Road, and the Corentyne Highway. These audits should identify substandard design elements that reduce road safety, such as rideability issues, proximity of fixed objects to the carriageway, passing sight distances, and roadway turn designs. This approach would allow for targeted funding to improve road safety effectively, moving away from government contracts aimed merely at financial gains for contractors.
Furthermore, the PNCR stressed the need for robust education and enforcement programs. They note that current campaigns are often short-lived and ineffective. The PNCR is preparing a comprehensive road safety and traffic management plan with the assistance of road and transportation engineers, aiming to establish a more enduring and effective solution to the road accident crisis.