Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has called for road safety to be prioritized at the national level, emphasizing its importance in reducing road incidents and saving lives amid a concerning rise in fatal accidents. His remarks were made at the Guyana National Road Safety Stakeholders Forum 2025.
As of July 26, 2025, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported 70 road deaths, marking a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. There were 66 fatal accidents, representing a 20% rise. However, serious accidents dropped by 7%, minor accidents fell by 4%, and damage-only incidents decreased by 3%. Notably, child fatalities were reduced by 50%, with only two reported.
Commissioner Hicken stressed the need for all citizens to take road safety seriously. “Road safety must be a national priority,” he stated, advocating for the integration of safety into national policies, safe infrastructure design, education, and enforcement initiatives. He acknowledged that enforcement alone would not resolve the issues at hand.
Hicken outlined three forms of accountability essential for improving road safety:
Personal Accountability: Individuals must take responsibility for their actions, recognizing that decisions such as speeding or distracted driving can have fatal consequences.
Institutional Accountability: Agencies must implement effective strategies to enhance road safety.
Societal Accountability: Communities must collaborate to change behaviors and attitudes toward road use.
Highlighting the disproportionate involvement of men in road accidents, Hicken urged men to take more responsibility. “We men have to do better,” he said, condemning reckless behaviors such as speeding and driving carelessly. He called for collective action to confront the issue and improve road safety for all.
Commissioner Hicken concluded by urging all road users to “do the right thing” by adhering to traffic laws and caring for one another. He emphasized that the forum should serve as a turning point, making road safety a fundamental part of daily life in Guyana.
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