The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation yesterday announced that 75 fewer drivers had been fined for overloaded trucks last month compared to June, attributing the decline to recent crackdowns.

The ministry reported a total of 190 overloaded trucks were stopped and fined more than $112,000 collectively in July, down from 265 offenders the previous month.

Trucks were typically overloaded by between 4 and 33 tonnes, but two particularly overburdened vehicles – weighing in at 38 and 48 tonnes – were apprehended last month in Kampong Cham.

Ministry spokesman Va Simsorya said the fines outweighed the cost of bribes that drivers paid. “In the past, we tolerated them and did not issue fines. But now, no more; the fines have been strictly enforced since April,” he said.

But Ear Chakriya, director of the Road Safety Institute, said further restrictions still were needed to prevent roads becoming ruined before their expected lifespan and putting passengers at risk.

“The move is good, but the ministry’s warning is not effective yet, so they should implement very strict procedures and cooperate with the police,” he said.