Heavy-duty trucks have been responsible for nearly 40% of road fatalities over the past five years, prompting renewed calls for mandatory speed governors on these vehicles.
Earl Lambert, Chairman of the Guyana National Road Safety Council, revealed the troubling statistics on a recent episode of Road Safety and You. Between 2019 and 2024, trucks were involved in 38–40% of fatal crashes—more than any other category of vehicle. In 2023, there were 30 truck-related accidents, followed by 25 in 2024, with many of these collisions linked to excessive speeding along major highways.
Lambert underscored the urgent need for intervention, noting the strong connection between high speeds, poor road conditions, and deadly outcomes.
In response, the government is advancing plans for an Auto Control Speed Management System that would require tamper-resistant speed governors on all heavy-duty trucks. These devices would enforce speed limits outlined in the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act—50 km/h in urban zones and 80–100 km/h on rural roads, depending on vehicle capacity.
The proposed system includes GPS tracking, geo-fencing, and real-time tampering alerts, enabling constant monitoring of truck speeds and movement patterns.
Lambert described the initiative as an essential step toward modernizing Guyana’s road safety framework. With truck-related crashes remaining a major contributor to road deaths, authorities view mandatory speed governors as a critical measure to safeguard the travelling public.
