GEORGETOWN — The government is preparing to roll out tougher penalties for speeding and other dangerous road behaviors as part of a broader overhaul of Guyana’s traffic laws, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has confirmed.
His announcement follows growing backlash over the newly introduced $75,000 fine for illegal window tinting, a sharp jump that many citizens argue is wildly out of proportion when compared to the current $7,500 penalty for speeding, one of Guyana’s leading killers on the road.
Appearing on his programme Issues in the News on Tuesday night, Nandlall acknowledged the criticism, stating that an increase in the speeding penalty is already being prepared. “Harsher penalties will be imposed for speeding among other legislative reforms,” the Attorney General said, adding that the government is moving to confront what he described as a “deeply concerning” pattern of fatal crashes.
He emphasized that the administration is monitoring road safety with urgency and will push continuous legal updates “in the public interest” to curb negligent and reckless driving. The ongoing reforms come at a moment when road safety is under intense national scrutiny. Between 2020 and 2024, Guyana recorded 642 road deaths, including 24 children; a statistic the World Bank recently labeled “unacceptably high.”
Despite the policy’s stated goal of improving police visibility and crime detection, public frustration remains high, especially among vehicle owners who believe the enforcement rollout has lacked clarity.
Nandlall made clear that traffic policy reform goes beyond tint. He pointed to a rise in fatal and severe crashes, Reckless and negligent driving on public roads, The pressure on medical and emergency response systems.
The Attorney General said the government is determined not to sit back and allow the crisis to continue unchecked. “The misuse of our public roadways continues to greatly concern our government,” he noted. “We will make reforms when we believe it is necessary to protect lives.”
As the Christmas travel season peaks and traffic intensifies, Guyanese can expect not only stricter enforcement, but a significantly more expensive bill for breaking the rules.
