The transport of prefab houses across the country's highways has always been problematic. And that's because of competing interests.
They want to make it safe, but they also need to make it not as much of a road blocking inconvenience to commuters. So that meant banning hauling during daylight hours.
But then two fatal accidents were caused in collisions with these houses being moved at night.
So, there was a temporary ban put on such house hauling as decision makers try to find a middle ground.
Today we spoke Via Zoom with the CEO in the Ministry of Transport Chester Williams about the compromise between competing interests of cost, convenience and safety:
Chester Williams, CEO, Transport
"In the aftermath of two consecutive fatalities, just a matter of weeks apart, the cabinet have given instructions that we put an immediate ban on the movement of these houses on our highways. Wholesome."
"And that while the builders will still be allowed to move their homes on the highway, that it must be done in portions. In other words, that the house must be transported in parts. In the aftermath of the shift in policy, the builders came to a meeting at our request, where we discuss the entire issue and try to forge a way forward."
"But looking at the circumstances that surrounds the death of those two individuals who unfortunately died, there is nothing to suggest that their death had anything to do with any failure on the part of the people who transported these homes."
"They were in compliance with all the procedures and everything. There was adequate warning period and everything. So there is nothing to suggest that the movement of the houses by them contributed to the death of these individuals."
"That being the case, it would be unfair to have them suffer to some extent from what happened in respect of those incidents. There's going to be load haulers in the rear and front guard, as well as the amber lights, flashing amber lights, to indicate to incoming traffic that there is some oversized load being carried either in front or behind."
"And most importantly, they will be putting out public announcements at least a couple days ahead, notifying the public that a house will be transported on, for example, the Hummingbird Highway between the hours of 9 p.m. and 12 midnight on January 10th, hypothetically, right? So again, that will give motorists advanced notice that if they're traveling on the highway, around that time at night for them to expect that there is going to be the movement of a house on the road."
