Heavy-duty vehicles: Necessary evil

Statistical analyses by the Ministry of Transport on accidents in urban centres have revealed that most accidents are caused by heavy-duty vehicles, running during rush hours along urban routes.

In order to pre-empt accidents caused by such vehicles, the Minister of Transport Robert Nkili signed a circular letter on 16th October 2014, banning the circulation of heavy duty vehicles from 6am to 9pm on week days.

The circular stipulates the following;

1.Restrictive measures:

•Prohibition of the circulation of heavy duty vehicles on urban routes between 6 am and 9 pm every day except weekends.

•Limitation of circulation of heavy duty trucks to just peripheral highways indicated by the administrative and/or municipal authorities of the town.

•Limitation of driving speed to 40km/h at the authorised hours.

•Absolute conformity of technology and dimensions of vehicles to acceptable norms.

2.The vehicles to follow the aforementioned restrictions include; Lorries, lorry-tractors, sand trucks, tankers, trailers and tractor-trailers. The restrictions remain applicable whether the vehicle is empty or loaded.

3.Administrative and municipal authorities can, due to their competence, prescribe other more restraining measures, with respect to the frame already carved out by the circular letter.

The above announcement from the Minister of Transport follows after two major cities of the country, Yaounde and Doula witnessed tragedy following two ghastly road accidents caused by heavy-duty vehicles.

The Minister’s notice received wide acclaim especially from road users, victims and witnesses of tragic situations caused by heavyweight vehicles.

Though beneficial to many, the recent restrictions inferred from the letter may incur some economic breakdown as noted by several businessmen.

There is some economic debate on the topic, owing to the need to distribute goods at warehouses or to retailers during the day; construction materials and drinks being the most prominent consumer goods to be distributed.

Some school of thought suggests that all such distribution should be done late at night while others question the level of security while working at unholy hours.

With the desire for an accident-free environment and a vibrant economy, Cameroonians call for the institution of some degree of “logical” order.