JEDDAH, 3 May 2003 — Accidents involving heavy trucks have been the subject of a spate of recent press reports, Al-Madinah wrote. As a result, there are increasing calls to ban trucks from our cities during the rush hour as well as for tougher measures to enforce safety regulations on our roads.
The death of two students and their father in Makkah when a large truck flipped over is still fresh in people’s minds, the newspaper said.
Trucks also slowed down traffic and caused congestion on the streets of the Kingdom’s cities.
Motorist Abdullah Al-Kahtani told the newspaper truck drivers drove at high speed and frequently lost control of the unwieldy vehicles. They also drove inconsiderately.
“At intersections, they never give way to smaller cars,” he said. “They take advantage of their size, knowing that nobody will stop them. In Jeddah there is so much traffic during the rush hour when children go to school, and it takes a long time to get to your destination.”
He said banning water and sewage trucks in cities during these peak times would take pressure off the streets.
Muhammad Al-Gadi agreed. “The drivers drive fast, and it seems they do not care about other drivers. Officials must step in to stop these trucks at certain peak hours in the interest of safety,” he added.
Abdullah Husni said he suffered from the trucks when driving his daughter to school and on his way to work. “They are so slow at traffic lights,” he said. “I lose 20 to 30 minutes every day because they hold up the traffic, and by the time you get to the intersection the lights have turned red again.”
He said he was involved in an accident with a sewage truck last year. “It was a big truck, and it failed to notice my little car when the driver wanted to make a left turn.”
Husni said the driver did not check his mirror. “Thank God I was not injured. It was very close,” he added.
Turki Al-Amri is a truck driver who agrees. “Some of my colleagues don’t stick to the speed limit in the city,” he said. “And some are reckless and do not care about other drivers.”
