HGP Nightly News – In a single week, Guyana’s roads produced more than 3,000 reasons for concern. The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has documented a staggering 3,233 traffic-related offences between February 15 and February 21, 2026, painting a troubling picture of widespread non-compliance with basic road safety regulations.
Speeding continues to dominate the landscape of violations, with 1,132 cases recorded during the seven-day period, more than one-third of all offences. The numbers suggest that for countless motorists, the posted speed limit remains little more than a suggestion.
But speed is far from the only concern. Police statistics reveal a troubling disregard for fundamental safety measures. One hundred and twelve drivers were caught without seatbelts. One hundred and one motorcyclists failed to wear safety helmets. Fifty-five pillion riders were found without helmets, a particularly reckless choice given the vulnerability of passengers.
The enforcement net also captured 41 drivers operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol, 46 unlicensed drivers behind the wheel, and nearly 200 vehicles driving in darkness without proper lighting, 96 without front lights and 95 without rear lights. Each of these offences represents not just a legal breach but a potential tragedy waiting to happen.
Authorities also recorded 97 breaches of prescribed fitness conditions, 97 cases of vehicles left in dangerous positions, and 13 traffic light violations. The sheer volume of cases suggests that enforcement alone cannot solve what appears to be a deeper cultural problem.
“Offences related to safety equipment remain particularly concerning,” police noted, pointing to the repeated detection of seatbelt and helmet violations despite ongoing enforcement and awareness campaigns. The message is clear: too many road users are simply not getting it.
Alongside the enforcement blitz, the traffic department has intensified its public education campaign, delivering road safety sessions at dozens of schools between February 16 and February 20. In Regional Division 4A alone, officers visited institutions including West Ruimveldt Primary, St. Gabriel’s Primary and Nursery, North Georgetown Primary, St. Ambrose Primary, Chase Academy, and St. Joseph High. Educational outreach extended to Regions Three, One, and Nine, reaching Zeeburg Secondary, Canal Bank Primary, Kamwatta Primary, and Nappi Secondary.
Police describe the initiative as part of a sustained effort to instill road safety awareness from an early age, a long-term investment in changing the culture that produces 3,000 offences in a single week.
For now, the numbers speak for themselves. Guyana’s roads remain a space where too many drivers take too many risks, where basic safety equipment is too often ignored, and where enforcement and education are locked in an ongoing battle against carelessness and complacency. The 3,233 cases from one week are not just statistics. They are warnings.
