With the re-opening of schools for the Christmas term last Monday, and the attendant daily increase in traffic on the nation’s roadways, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is once again making a special appeal to all road users to be more responsible while using the roads, and moreso, to be on the lookout for children at all times.
Mrs. Correia, a NRSC Official presents a road safety paddle to a school safety patrol
Motorists, in particular, are asked to look out for school-children. Teachers and parents are reminded to enforce the Road Safety education and School Safety Patrols in schools.
Students are reminded of the CURB DRILL:- LOOK RIGHT, LOOK LEFT, LOOK RIGHT AGAIN; WHEN THE ROAD IS CLEAR, WALK BRISKLY ACROSS.
Noting that accidents have resulted in major loss of lives and serious disability to persons, the NRSC is urging motorists to be ever mindful of the five Cs of Road Safety: Care, Courtesy, Consideration, Caution and Commonsense when using the roadways.
Moreover, the Council has observed that blatant disregard for traffic laws and traffic advisories are the major contributing factors to road accidents, which responsible Guyanese are desperately trying to reduce substantially.
A Police Traffic rank presents a manual to a road safety patrol
Also, serious accidents have significantly disturbed the social welfare, the NRSC said, of all the affected families.
But while motorists play a major role in the cause of road accidents, the NRSC has taken note that pedestrians and cyclists are also to be blamed for the demonstration of careless and reckless attitudes which have resulted in accidents. The Council condemned such behaviour, noting that they result in only “needless road crashes and deaths.”
Concerned that all categories of accidents continue to impact the national economy financially, while distressing all parties involved – emotionally and physically- the NRSC is calling on all concerned, to up the ante and put an end to the road carnage and needless maiming and crippling of road users.
(By Shirley Thomas)