GCCI blasts authorities for lack of action against reckless truck drivers

Business umbrella organisation, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), has blasted the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as well as the Government for its passive stance regarding the continued reckless use of the roadway by truck drivers.
The Chamber has expressed outrage regarding the reckless road usage by heavy-duty trucks coupled with the lack of proper action from relevant authorities to address the situation.
“The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry expresses its deep consternation and outrage regarding the inadequate management of road usage by heavy-duty trucks and the lack of proper concern and action from relevant authorities to address the continued reckless behavior of their drivers. This includes blatant disregard for speed limits and weight restrictions, posing a significant danger to all road users,” the missive from the private sector body detailed.
According to GCCI, this ongoing misuse of the roadways by these trucks, coupled with the absence of effective management, monitoring, and enforcement by the Police Force, creates an alarming and unacceptable level of risk.
This situation, the chairman further highlighted, is not only a matter of public safety but also impacts economic activities and the overall well-being of communities across the country.
To this end, the GCCI said “We urgently call upon the Guyana Police Force and the government to cease their passive stance and take immediate, decisive actions to rectify this growing public hazard. It is imperative that measures are implemented to ensure compliance with road regulations and to safeguard the safety and security of all road users.”
Just last week, the body of 36-year-old mother of three identified as Martha Williams was mutilated by a hauler truck at High and Princes Streets, Georgetown.
Also occurring last week, another woman, Doreen Haynes, was squeezed and crushed to death by a truck on Water Street, Georgetown. In that incident, the truck involved in the crash was at the time unregistered.
More recently, in the wee hours of Thursday, a truck crashed head-on into a motor car at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara. The driver of the left-hand drive SUV escaped unhurt despite the front of his vehicle completely smashed in. Based on reports from the scene, the truck driver had allegedly fallen asleep behind the wheels resulting in the lorry ending up in the SUV’s path on the opposite. Another truck was also damaged in the incident.
Also on Thursday morning, a sand-laden truck toppled to its side on the Mandela to Eccles Four Lane Highway in the vicinity of the Harpy Eagle roundabout.
Only earlier this month, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill and police officials held a meeting at the Guyana National Stadium on the East Bank of Demerara with owners and operators of trucks and articulated vehicles.
During the meeting, Public Works Minister also rolled out a five-point plan to help reduce accidents and issues associated with trucks on the roadways. The plan addresses issues including the need for reduced speed and better management of noise nuisance, as well as concerns regarding damage to public property and the designated weight requirement for trucks.
Some 100 truck drivers, operators, and trailer owners were present at the event, which focused on discussing strategies for improving the functioning of trucks and other articulated vehicles on the roadways to prevent accidents and minimise inconvenience to other commuters.
Edghill firstly directed his remarks to Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh and traffic ranks, who were also present at the event, stressing that drivers who are tired should not be allowed to operate vehicles on Guyana’s roadways.
The minister had urged Police Officers to intervene if they observe drivers exceeding reasonable hours, emphasising the importance of ensuring that tired drivers do not pose a distinct threat towards every citizen of Guyana.
“A tired driver is a danger to every citizen of this country, if Police are working on the road and notice any driver making trips for lengthy periods of time and noticed that they have not taken time to rest, make sure to have them be pulled aside,” Edghill had said, pledging to collaborate with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement the suspension of licences for drivers whose employers permit them to work extensive hours without adequate rest.
The Public Works Minister had also raised the issue of overweight trucks and stressed that drivers were not ensuring that the items they were transporting were safely secured. He further highlighting that some trucks have no covers while transporting loads of materials thus resulting in sand and stones dropping out off some of the trucks into the path of other vehicles behind them.
“This can cause severe problems to drivers and even make motorcycle riders to skid along the roadway and make them liable to being run over by trucks, etc,” Edghill outlined.
Meanwhile, during the engagement with the minister, the truck drivers also raised their concerns which included the use of illegal sirens. One driver advised that there was need to raise awareness about the lights on cars that mimic the lights of Police, fire, and Army vehicles as well as honking noises that mimic law enforcement sirens. (G8)