GETTING everyone to buckle up while travelling in vehicles in this country is not an issue that should create controversy in the public discussions due to start this week on reforming and toughening up the traffic laws.

Wearing seat belts is already law in many countries and Guyanese travelling abroad have no option but to buckle up.

If they don't, they face the consequences if caught `unbuckled' in a vehicle by a cop.

In some Caribbean countries wearing seat belts is also compulsory for passengers in mini-buses and it is baffling that the trend has taken so long to catch on in this country.

Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj last week commented at a news conference on the upcoming public discussions and the need for making seat belts compulsory:

"We have had children flying through windscreens."

He also noted that it was ironic that the wearing of "safety belts has to be legislated for when it is for (people's) own safety and interest."

It is indeed amazing that people have to be forced to do things and made to comply with rules and regulations when it is all for their safety and wellbeing.

Take the case of safety helmets for motorcyclists and their pillion riders.

It has been proven that these helmets can protect the wearer from serious head injuries in the event of an accident.

The law was introduced and tough measures were promised against defaulters.

For a time almost all those on motorcycles wore them.

Now more people are without them than are. Sometimes the riders were them and their pillion riders don't; at other times the pillion riders wear them and the riders don't.

The motorcycle helmet law has become something of a joke - until the next tough short campaign.

No wonder the Home Affairs Minister was moved to declare that all in all, the country's traffic situation was in bad shape and there was need for new and stringent traffic regulations.

For one thing, the fines for defaulters would have to be heavy enough to ensure that the rules are not flaunted or observed as a fashion - to be adhered to for a period and ignored after.

In other countries, even bicyclists wear safety helmets and it is difficult to understand why adhering to simple basic rules is such a problem here.

Getting civilians involved in some aspects of ensuring safety on the roads is a welcome step. As we have noted before this could create greater public awareness and could really make road safety everybody's business.

Mr. Gajraj last week said one measure that will be up for discussion at the public consultations is civilian involvement in the examination and certification of vehicles.

This would remove a lot of the frustration and time wasting involved in the current process.

A lot more such innovative measures and heavy doses of common sense would be needed to bring order to the traffic chaos.