ROAD SAFETY- A Practical Approach To view this presentation, first, turn up your volume and second, launch the self-running slide show. KESTER HINDS Maintenance/Traffic/Safety Engineer, WSG, Ministry of Public Works

SITUATION GLOBAL LOCAL (Guyana) 1.3 million people DIE IN THE WORLD every year 138 people DIE IN GUYANA every year 122 50 million people are INJURED in the world every year Unknown INJURY for last ten years 453 of road deaths occur in LOW and MEDIUM INCOME countries of road deaths occur in G/TOWN, ECD & EBD corridors 90% 67% of ACCIDENT VICTIMS are vulnerable road users of ACCIDENT VICTIMS are vulnerable road users 50% 64% INTRO Road traffic crashes are one of the world’s largest public health and injury prevention problems. The problem is all the more acute because the victims are overwhelmingly healthy before their crashes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leading cause of death among children 10–19 years of age. The report also noted that the problem was most severe in developing countries and that simple prevention measures could halve the number of death. GLOBAL More than 3500 deaths each day, and half of these people are not travelling in a vehicle. Over 2 persons per minute. By the end of this presentation it is estimated that 30 persons would have died on the World’s roads. (15 minutes) 20 million and 50 million more are injured as a result of road crashes, and these injuries are an important cause of disability worldwide. Ninety percent of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, which claim less than half the world's registered vehicle fleet. Road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between 5 and 44 years of age. The economic consequences of motor vehicle crashes have been estimated between 1% and 3% of the respective GNP of the world countries, reaching a total over $500 billion. GUYANA Average of 138 persons die on Guyana’s Roads for the last 10 years from avg. 122 accidents. Average of 453 Injury Accidents which would have resulted in an unknown amount of injuries, but definitely much more that 453. Some of those persons may have suffered a disability that may have rendered them incapable of working. ECD accounting for 25% of the fatalities, EBD 23% and within Georgetown 19% Pedestrian 34%, Motor Cyclist 15%, Pedal Cyclist 15% road accidents cost around USD 14.3 million dollars every year road accidents cost around 500 billion dollars every year

GUYANA’S ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE The Ministry of Health’s Statistical Bulletins 2004 – 2009 highlights road traffic crashes as one of the top ten causes of death in Guyana.   2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 FATAL ACCIDENTS 165 140 169 99 98 101 106 102 103 135 FATALITIES 182 164 207 113 117 115 110 112 146 CATEGORIES OF ROAD USERS KILLED Pedestrian 73 42 63 38 40 41 34 39 60 Motor Cyclist 20 27 30 18 15 22 17 19 26 Pedal Cyclist 25 32 13 Driver 16 14 7 11 Passenger in Cars 12 8 5 10 Passenger in Buses 6 1 Passenger in Lorries/Vans/Tractor/Trailer 2 3 4 Pillion Rider Controller of Animal Drawn Vehicle YEAR NO. OF FATAL COST OF FATAL ACCIDENTS (USD) NO. OF SERIOUS COST OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS (USD) NO. OF MINOR COST OF MINOR ACCIDENTS (USD) NO. OF DAMAGE COST OF DAMAGE ACCIDENTS (USD) TOTAL ACCIDENT TOTAL ACCIDENT COST 2005 165 9,900,000 440 3,300,000 655 4,912,500 1,219 243,800 2,479 18,356,300 2006 140 8,400,000 492 3,690,000 618 4,635,000 1,186 237,200 2,436 16,962,200 2007 169 10,140,000 429 3,217,500 650 4,875,000 1,111 222,200 2,359 18,454,700 2008 99 5,940,000 354 2,655,000 550 4,125,000 938 187,600 1,941 12,907,600 2009 98 5,880,000 364 2,730,000 531 3,982,500 1,070 214,000 2,063 12,806,500 2010 101 6,060,000 348 2,610,000 471 3,532,500 784 156,800 1,704 12,359,300 2011 106 6,360,000 321 2,407,500 502 3,765,000 791 158,200 1,720 12,690,700 2012 102 6,120,000 318 2,385,000 434 3,255,000 1,638 11,916,800 2013 103 6,180,000 336 2,520,000 454 3,405,000 668 133,600 1,561 12,238,600 2014 135 8,100,000 351 2,632,500 441 3,307,500 627 125,400 1,554 14,165,400 COST / ACCIDENT (USD) 60,000 7,500 200 19,455 142,858,100 AVERAGE/YEAR 1,946 14,285,810 There were 99 fatal accidents in 2008 which resulted in 113 fatalities ( including 7 children). This represented the lowest fatality Guyana had recorded since 1969. The previous year there were 207 fatalities, a reduction of 45.4 % or 94 less deaths on the roadways in 2008 than in 2007. For the period 2008 to 2013 Guyana experienced an average of 101 fatal accidents and 114 fatalities. THEN 2014 we experienced 135 fatal accidents and 146 fatalities. A 23.7% INCREASE in FATAL ACCIDENTS.

GUYANA’S ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE YEAR NO. OF FATAL NO. OF SERIOUS NO. OF MINOR NO. OF DAMAGE TOTAL ACCIDENT 2005 165 440 655 1,219 2,479 2006 140 492 618 1,186 2,436 2007 169 429 650 1,111 2,359 2008 99 354 550 938 1,941 2009 98 364 531 1,070 2,063 2010 101 348 471 784 1,704 2011 106 321 502 791 1,720 2012 102 318 434 1,638 2013 103 336 454 668 1,561 2014 135 351 441 627 1,554

GUYANA’S ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE   2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 FATAL ACCIDENTS 165 140 169 99 98 101 106 102 103 135 FATALITIES 182 164 207 113 117 115 110 112 146 FATALITY RATE 24.27 21.87 27.60 15.07 15.60 15.33 14.67 14.93 19.47 Country Accident per 100,000 persons Venezuela 21.8 Mexico 20.7 Guyana 18.41 (2005-2014) Suriname 18.3 Brazil Trinidad and Tobago 16.7 Bahamas 14.5 Honduras 13.5 Jamaica 12.3 Ecuador 11.7 Barbados 7.3 The Fatality Rate is the numbers of persons killed for every 100,000 Population. Guyana’s Population is assumed to be 750,000 Guyana’s fatality rate averaged 15.15 for the period 2008 to 2013. With it being 27.6 in 2007 and 19.47 in 2014.

GUYANA’S ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE Division 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 TOTAL Georgetown 30 21 24 16 4 19 26 17 15 188 East Bank Demerara 35 32 12 22 233 Highway to Dora 3 1 10 2 5 7 38 New Amsterdam 6 39 Corentyne 14 13 8 124 West Coast Berbice 25 9 105 East Coast Demerara 41 20 27 252 West Coast Demerara 11 129 West Bank Demerara 67 Linden/Wismar 83 Bartica/Interior 49 Essequibo Coast 74 182 164 207 113 117 115 110 112 146 1381 The ECD and EBD Corridors along with Georgetown are the deadliest roads. The EBD being 39.5 KM and the ECD 39.5 KM.

GUYANA’S ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE

New Vehicles Registered Years New Vehicles Registered 2000 5,336 2001 4,375 2002 4,192 2003 5,977 2004 7,757 2005 7,810 2006 10,841 2007 8,763 2008 9,213 2009 10,285 2010 12,538 2011 10,198 2012 16,172 2013 15,694 Total 129,151 ANNUAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION Estimated Vehicle Population of Approximately 120,000 Additionally, the number of new vehicles registered in Guyana continues to increase. Between 2000 and 2013, 129,151 new vehicles were registered in Guyana. In 2012 there were 16,172 vehicles registered with the majority being private cars.

HOW TO ADDRESS THE ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGES Adequately funded Agency and a National Plan or Strategy with realistic measureable targets. Incorporate Road Safety features into Land-use, Urban Planning and Transport Planning Road Safety Audits Improving the safety features of vehicles Promoting Public Transport Effective speed management through the use of traffic-calming measures Setting and Enforcing internationally harmonized laws requiring the use of seat-belts, helmets and child restraints Setting and enforcing blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers Improving post-crash care for victims of road crashes Public awareness campaigns that are sustainable. Accident database The introduction of self enforcing techniques in road designs is likely to have much better short term results than improving vehicle standards and driver testing requirements. Many developing countries have either just adopted road standards from developed countries or modified such standards without fully evaluating the consequences. The traffic mix and road usage in developing countries is very different from that in developed countries. Road crashes can be prevented by better planning and more safety conscious design of the road network..Incorporate Sidewalks and Bicycle paths into the design 2. Road safety audit is the systematic checking of the safety aspects of new highway and traffic management schemes, including modifications to existing layouts. The main aim is to design out safety problems from the beginning and to reduce future problems. Safety audits should be included during the design, construction and maintenance phases of road projects. In many developing countries safety devices are included in the designs, but are simply not constructed on the ground. Frequently, road maintenance is limited to fixing potholes and cleaning drainage facilities, without replacing missing traffic signs, guard-rails, road markings and other safety features essential to create a safe road network 3. Ensure that vehicles imported has satisfied or passed certain safety test. 5. These calming measures may vary..They may include digital speed limits signs that can show the speed a vehicle is travelling at….SPEED HUMPS….STOP SIGNS…ROUNDABOUTS…..SPEED TABLES, long flat-topped speed humps that slow cars more gradually than humps……Raised PESDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, which act as speed tables, often situated at INTERSECTIONS. Police must be outfitted with SPEED GUNS… 6. The Helmets currently in use does not offer the kind of protection that is necessary. 7. All Traffic Police Patrol must be outfitted with BAC test equipment. 8. All Health Care Facilities must be equipped with AMBULANCES and TRAINED PERSONNEL to respond in the event of any ACCIDENTS. 9. will support the enforcement of legislative measures, by increasing awareness of risks and of the penalties associated with breaking the law, while educating persons on the proper use of the roads 10. Data is the cornerstone of all road safety activity and is essential for the diagnosis of the road crash problem and for monitoring road safety efforts. It is important to identify what categories of road users are involved in crashes, what manoeuvres and behaviour patterns lead to crashes and under what conditions crashes occur, in order to focus on safety activities. Having a database system that allows for accurate identification of the locations where accidents would have occurred will allow for the necessary interventions to be made. The database will not only lend support to ENGINEERS but will support the POLICE and guide their enforcement efforts. Mechanisms should be establish that also allows for reports to be made and document on internet portal. Where accidents observed by the public can be reported

ROAD SAFETY IN PRACTICE 4 E’s of ROAD SAFETY ROAD SAFETY IN PRACTICE EDUCATION ENGINEERING ENFORECEMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE What are the dependencies that affect the timeline, cost, and output of this project?

HOW TO PREVENT ROAD ACCIDENTS or REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF ROAD ACCIDENTS (Road Users) Increased police presence on the roads Mandatory helmets for bicycler Random alcohol breathalyzer test Driver's license suspensions for serious offenders Insurance premiums linked to traffic penalties Reflective road markings Seat belts for all passengers Speed bumps Children seats in vehicles Traffic signals for pedestrian crossings Encouraging use of public transportation Bicycle lanes Pedestrian paths Mandatory headlights for heavy vehicles at all times Driver retest Vehicles fitted with airbags Defensive driving training First aid training for the general population Increased friction on roads They are several simple ways that if utilised can contribute towards the reduction of road accidents, and also the reduction in the severity of such accidents when they occur.

HOW TO RESPOND TO ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS Data Systems and Analysis Designing Roads to Improve Road Safety (Safety Engineering) Defensive Driving Training Road Safety Education in Schools Higher Penalties /Fines for Road Traffic Violations More Resources for Police Traffic Department Accident Database Data is the cornerstone of all road safety activity and is essential for the diagnosis of the road crash problem and for monitoring road safety efforts. It is important to identify what categories of road users are involved in crashes, what manoeuvres and behaviour patterns lead to crashes and under what conditions crashes occur, in order to focus on safety activities. Having a database system that allows for accurate identification of the locations where accidents would have occurred will allow for the necessary interventions to be made. The database will not only lend support to ENGINEERS but will support the POLICE and guide their enforcement efforts. Mechanisms should be establish that also allows for reports to be made and document on internet portal. Where accidents observed by the public can be reported.

CONCLUSION Guyana has many of the road safety legislation, a good road safety management structure and the potential to reduce accidents by 50% by the year 2020. There needs to be a combined focus by all the Road Safety Agencies to Implement the Programmes and Activities that are outlined in the National Road Safety Strategy. The various agencies must learn from their mistakes and continually improve performances every year. In 2007 was had seen the highest number of recorded road fatalities in Guyana’s history, and a 45% reduction in 2008. Evidence showed that the declined was attributed to a sustained enforcement drive, supported by the engineering countermeasures that were installed between 2004 to 2008. Research needs to be conducted to Determine the True Cost of Road Traffic Accidents to Guyana.

Road Safety must be a Collective Effort from Multiple Stakeholders Road Safety must be a Collective Effort from Multiple Stakeholders. While it is the responsibility of Government to leave no stone unturned in ensuring proper condition of the Roads and Mechanisms in place to ensure strict adherence to traffic rules; Responsible driving and Respect for the Rules of the Road can be the driving force.

“Single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic” JOSEPH STALIN kesterhinds@gmail.com