Government developing policy to regulate use of roadways by big trucks

The Government is currently working on a policy to regulate the use of big trucks on the country’s roadways, with weight limit regulations being the center of a new policy, the Minister of Works has announced.

Minister Juan Edghill told reporters that large trucks are often overloaded and speeding on the roadways and have been damaging roads in various communities as well as causing accidents.

“Trucks cannot move at the same speed as a motorcar, or SUV or bus, they are fetching weight, so in that policy that we are developing we are also looking at weight control,” the Minister said.

He explained that overweight trucks continue to damage the country’s roads and he made the case of the western half of the Heroes highway which has to undergo frequent rehabilitation because of the heavy trucks that traverse there.

In addition to weight control, Mr. Edghill explained that the policy will also address the question of speed, the use of community roads, parking areas for the vehicles as well as the hours drivers spend on the road

“So, the Government has made a decision and the Ministry of Housing and Water, is preparing an area, I think it will be about 20 acres overall where trucks and people who operate commercial vehicles could be able to rent spaces for parking and I guess we will have to do the something along the line for the owners of fleet of businesses,” the Minister stated.

The Policy will cover container trucks, trawlers, trucks that carry sand, stones and other materials and large vehicles.

The Minister explained that the measures that are being put in place should not be seen as draconian, but noted that a culture of order and doing things in an orderly manner must be developed.

He said while the Government encourages economic opportunity, and the rapid development that is taking place in Guyana, the conversation has to be shifted on how those who use the road network do so in an orderly way.