Police crackdown on speeding trucks, rowdy minibuses

…as speed-limiting devices to now be installed on truck

The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) traffic department is working to curb the speeding of trucks and motor lorries as the drivers of these vehicles continue to pose a significant threat to other road users due to their “unsafe behaviour”.
This was highlighted by Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh, during this week’s edition of ‘Safeguarding the Nation’, a pre-recorded programme produced by the Government.

One of the initiatives to be implemented shortly, he said, involves a device that limits the speed of these motor vehicles. “In the time to come, there will be speed-limiting devices to be installed on these motor lorries which limit speed capability,” he said.
A speed limiting device for vehicles, also known as a speed limiter or governor, is a system that restricts a vehicle’s maximum speed. These devices are used to prevent drivers from exceeding a set speed, enhancing safety and potentially reducing accidents.
The traffic chief noted that trucks and motor lorries have been flagged with the offences of speeding, faulty packed loads and bad maintenance.
So far, the GPF has partnered with the Ministry of Public Works to establish weigh stations to deal with the overloading of the vehicles, while more patrols are deployed at areas frequented by this type of vehicle.
A few months ago, the Government said it was in the process of procuring 20 motion weight scales and 400 clamps to deal with the issue of overloaded trucks. Particularly, these tools are intended to curb damage to roads and other infrastructure caused by these overloaded trucks.
Already, police have already implemented no-truck routes in several villages.
Meanwhile, the other category of vehicle posing a danger to road users is minibuses, a major form of public transportation in Guyana. Offences also include speeding, overloading and/or loud music.
To address these issues, the GPF has been engaging the minibus owners, drivers and passengers as well as tightening some of its procedures, according to the Assistant Commissioner.
“We have tightened the process of issuance of a certificate of fitness and a road services licence which they require to operate on the road, as minibuses are recognised to be one of the most important means of public transportation,” he said.
The strengthening of these procedures, coupled with the Government’s speed cameras and e-ticketing system, he added, has contributed to a reduction in fatal accidents caused by minibuses. According to the traffic chief, in 2024, there were eight fatal accidents involving minibuses from a total of 117. This year, of the 63 fatal accidents recorded thus far, only one involves a minibus.

Reckless driving
Noting that the accidents are mainly caused by reckless driving due to a combination of mixed attitude, lateness, poor planning and a long-standing tendency towards supporting bending the rules, Singh said, “Younger folks continue to speed, and when accidents occur, younger folks also lose their lives.”
He acknowledged that in some cases, bad roads, poor lighting and improper and poor signage can lead to accidents, and in this case, he said information on areas prone to accidents is shared with the Public Works Ministry.
Therefore, he noted that the GPF and the ministry are conducting road safety audits, using crash data to identify accident black spots and improve lighting, road surfaces and signage.
This year, he disclosed that a total of 89,506 cases relating to traffic offences have been brought against errant drivers and motorcyclists. In 2024, the total was over 139,000.
The offences range from speeding, failure to wear safety helmets, failure to wear seatbelts, carrying more persons than permitted, breach of traffic light signals, uninsured motor vehicle, uncertified motor vehicle, leaving a vehicle in a dangerous parking position, maintenance of motor vehicle and obscured ID mark, among others.
As it relates to speeding, he said 4,300+ e-speeding tickets have been issued thus far for 2025, clarifying a number previously given by Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken in July, who said there were 889 speeding tickets issued.
The Traffic Chief said, “Remote monitoring and enforcement have reduced the ability for confrontation and officer biases when enforcement is done. Those speed cameras are now being installed across all spaces and roads in our country… to ensure we have greater scope to monitor, to enforce and to have clear control over what obtains.”
This system, he pointed out, has reduced bias or discretion from police officers issuing tickets.
Meanwhile, for the year so far, there were 63 fatal accidents resulting in 68 deaths.
Last year, there were 117 fatal accidents which resulted in 132 lives lost.