RESIDENTS in communities along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) corridor can expect to see stricter traffic regulations and enforcement for heavy-duty trucks operating in their communities.

This is according to General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who, during his Thursday press conference, stated that he’s met with contractors conducting works in the ECD backlands along with the housing minister and the traffic chief to address concerns of reckless driving and disturbances in those communities.

During this meeting, he said, “We made it clear to the contractors that we’d hold them responsible for the way trucks operate in these communities.”

He assured residents that specific directives have already been issued to improve road safety, and reduce disruption in villages.

“I want the people on the East Coast to know that the instructions are quite clear; that with these trucks, we’re going to now put speed limits, low speed limits through the villages… They (the police) are going to mount these signs almost immediately,” he said.

Dr. Jagdeo further explained that while trucks will be allowed to increase their speed in less populated areas, such as the backlands, new rules will strictly govern how trucks operate within communities.

“The trucks are required to close the tailgate both ways when they are full, and when they are empty, because the tailgates, when they leave them open, they just clang all the time when they go over sometimes the speed humps and disturb people,” he noted.

Added to this, he indicated that operators will be required to keep trucks covered, so that dust does not affect people, and, where necessary, they are required to keep the roads damp to keep the dust at bay.

“The police will now enforce these provisions, but we’re not going to hold the truck drivers; we’re going to hold them responsible. But ultimately, it would affect the contractors. That’s why I met with the contractors to insist that they should enforce this provision on their drivers, or even if they’re subcontracting the work out,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jagdeo noted that some communities have asked for speed bumps to be installed, especially on roads where schools exist, and as such, the Ministry of Public Works will look into this.

These assurances, he said, came after he made visits to communities along the East Coast corridor over the past weekend, and heard some of these as concerns raised by the residents.