FOLLOWING a recent fatal accident that occurred on the Linden to Lethem trail, E Division ranks, on Tuesday, met with lumber truck and lorry drivers and reiterated calls for them to adhere to traffic regulations as strict enforcement of these will commence on Monday, July 15, 2019.

The meeting chaired by Commander of ‘E’ Division, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord, and included other senior ranks was attended by about 50 drivers and officers from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

All parties were able to voice their concerns in an effort to ensure safer driving. The ranks raised the concern of drivers continuing to drive with unlit motor vehicles at nights which pose a serious danger, especially on thoroughfares with no lighting, such as the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

They were reminded that the stipulated time for operation was between 06:00 hrs and 18:00 hrs daily and the need for safety equipment and reflectors, to be installed, in the eventuality of a break down, especially at nights. The drivers were also reminded of the speed limit for their category of vehicle, which should be adhered to particularly with the heavy load of lumber.

The GFC officers raised the issue of drivers overloading their trucks and packing their logs in a haphazard manner, which also pose a danger to other road users. While the drivers made commitments to make a special effort to adhere to the regulations, they too had some concerns. One of their major concerns was that of the deplorable state of the interior roads and how such poses a threat to their safety and creates additional expenses for them as well.

Their main concern was the state of Wisroc to Rockstone stretch. They also opined that trucks encountering electrical issues while coming out of the interior location should receive leniency on the part of the police especially in the day, since the regulated time does not allow them to travel in the nights. While their points were noted, the ranks said that that should not be an excuse to break traffic regulations and full enforcement will commence from the July 15, 2019 2019.