LNP Steps Up Highway Enforcement Amid Rising Deadly Road Crashes | News

The Liberia National Police (LNP) has intensified highway traffic enforcement across the country, urging motorists to exercise greater caution as authorities move to curb a growing wave of deadly road traffic crashes that continue to claim lives and leave hundreds injured each year.

In a nationwide public safety advisory issued this week, the Police announced the increased deployment of traffic officers along major highways to assist motorists, manage traffic flow, and enforce road safety regulations.

The renewed enforcement campaign comes just days after a devastating road accident in Johnsonville involving a commercial truck and a motorcycle left a university student with life-changing injuries, reigniting public concern over road safety and the operation of heavy-duty trucks on Liberia’s highways.

According to the LNP, officers stationed along major highways are not only enforcing traffic laws but are also providing emergency assistance and ensuring the orderly movement of traffic.

“The Liberia National Police assures the public that officers deployed along the Monrovia–Ganta Highway are present not only to enforce the law but also to provide assistance to motorists, respond to emergencies, and help ensure the safe and orderly movement of traffic,” the statement said.

The advisory was issued barely two days after Amelia Diamond Chenoweth, a student of the African Methodist Episcopal University, suffered catastrophic injuries when the motorcycle she was riding was struck by a truck in Johnsonville on Tuesday, June 23.

The collision severely damaged both of her legs. Medical personnel at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center were later forced to amputate one of her legs after determining that the injuries were beyond repair.

The motorcycle rider also sustained serious injuries, although his condition and whereabouts have not been publicly disclosed.

LNP spokesperson Sam Collins confirmed Thursday that the truck driver is currently in police custody after surrendering to authorities following the incident.

“The driver of the truck is in police custody,” Collins told this newspaper.

The driver’s identity has not yet been released as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.

“All accident cases are of concern, so that matter is under investigation,” Collins said.

Asked about growing public calls to restrict the movement of heavy-duty trucks to nighttime operations, Collins declined to comment directly on the proposal but emphasized that Liberians have the constitutional right to peacefully express their views.

“It is the right of the people to express their opinions when these kinds of things happen or anything that affects them,” he said.

The Johnsonville accident has sparked widespread outrage, with many Liberians demanding stronger enforcement against reckless driving and greater accountability for commercial transport operators.

Human rights advocate Titus Pakala joined the growing public outcry, urging the government to conduct a transparent investigation and ensure justice for Amelia.

“We may not give back Amelia’s leg, but we can ensure that justice is served,” Pakala wrote on social media.

“Let’s call out the Government of Liberia to give us a full account of its investigation and hold whoever is responsible for inflicting a lifetime of pain on Amelia.”

He warned that failure to hold reckless drivers accountable could lead to more preventable tragedies.

Meanwhile, Chenoweth’s family and well-wishers have launched fundraising efforts to help meet her growing medical expenses. However, relatives say donation efforts have been complicated after her mother’s mobile money account reached its transaction limit following a recent SIM card upgrade.

The latest accident adds to an alarming national road safety crisis.

Police statistics show that during the first quarter of 2026 alone, Liberia recorded 478 road traffic crashes, resulting in 71 deaths and more than 300 injuries. A significant proportion of those crashes involved heavy-duty trucks and commercial transport vehicles.

The figures follow an equally troubling 2025, when the LNP documented 1,564 traffic accidents that claimed 236 lives nationwide.

Road safety advocates warn that heavy-duty truck crashes have become one of Liberia’s most serious public safety concerns, frequently causing multiple fatalities, permanent disabilities, and lengthy disruptions along major transportation corridors.

The growing concern was evident in May this year when angry residents in Kakata staged protests after a container truck crushed a motorcycle beneath its rear wheels, instantly killing a pregnant woman and the motorcycle rider. The tragedy occurred after several other truck-related deaths were reported within the same week.

Another fatal incident occurred in Nimba County when a flatbed truck transporting hundreds of bags of cement reportedly lost control near CMC Junction on the Ganta-Saclepea Highway, killing three passengers instantly.

Road safety experts and police attribute the increasing number of crashes to a combination of mechanical failures, reckless driving, speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and weak compliance with traffic regulations.

According to safety advocates, many freight vehicles continue operating with defective braking systems and worn steering components. Others break down on highways without placing reflective warning triangles, making them nearly invisible to approaching motorists, particularly at night.

Commercial truck drivers have also been accused of excessive speeding in an effort to maximize the number of daily trips between rural operational sites and Monrovia, often disregarding smaller road users such as motorcycles and tricycles.

In its latest advisory, the Liberia National Police reminded motorists that the legal highway speed limit remains 45 miles per hour, or approximately 72 kilometers per hour.

The Police further outlined the country’s statutory speed limits, noting that motorists must observe 15 miles per hour in school zones, 25 miles per hour within cities and municipal districts, 35 miles per hour in residential areas outside city limits, and 45 miles per hour on open highways.

Motorcycle operators are required to maintain a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour while adjusting their speed whenever road, weather, traffic, or visibility conditions require additional caution.

The LNP said investigations into previous crashes show that most serious accidents result from preventable violations.

Among the leading causes identified are excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, improper lane usage, distracted driving involving mobile phones, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to wear seat belts, operating poorly maintained vehicles, driver fatigue during long-distance travel, and failure to obey traffic signs, road markings, and lawful police instructions.

Motorists were also urged to remain vigilant for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, livestock, stalled vehicles, and ongoing road construction, all of which can pose unexpected hazards.

The Police warned that officers deployed nationwide will continue strict enforcement of traffic regulations, adding that motorists found violating the law will face appropriate legal sanctions.

Reaffirming that road safety is a shared national responsibility, the LNP called on drivers to respect speed limits, maintain safe following distances, use indicators before changing lanes or turning, ensure passengers are properly secured, and avoid risky driving behaviors.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Every responsible decision made behind the wheel helps save lives and protects families,” the Police said.

The advisory concluded with a simple but urgent message to every road user across Liberia: “Slow Down. Stay Alert. Obey the Law. Arrive Safely.”