Activists call for action against parking of trucks along highways

Road safety activists in Tiruchi district express concern over trucks parked along highways, citing a recent accident in Salem. P. Ayyarappan & N. Saravanan point out 'black spots' & urge authorities to ensure safety of other motorists. Truckers urged to switch on parking lights & use lay bays, & have reflector stickers at rear.

Road safety activists have expressed concern over the continued practice of trucks being parked along the Highways in various parts of Tiruchi district.

Citing the gruesome road accident in Salem district in which a car rammed a stationary truck killing six persons on Wednesday, P. Ayyarappan, president, Road Users Welfare Association, points out that such accidents have occurred in Tiruchi district too in the past.

“Parking on the sides of highways is common on many highway stretches in the district, especially on the Tiruchi-Chennai, Tiruchi-Karur, Tiruchi-Dindigul and Tiruchi-Thanjavur national highways, besides the Kallanai road running along the banks of the river Cauvery,” he observed in a representation taken posted in the WhatsApp complaints number provided by the District Superintendent of Police.

Identifying several ‘black spots’ notorious for such parking, Mr.Ayyarappan said the practice was rampant between Jeeyapuram and Thiruchendurai, Pazhur, Kavalkarapalayam on Tiruchi-Karur NH and at Pirattiyur, Vannankoil, J.J.College campus, Vellivadi and Manapparai on Tiruchi-Dindigul Highway. “Several trucks could be seen parked routinely on these stretches without any indication in violation of road safety norms,” he said and appealed to the authorities to maintain a vigil and ensure that the safety of other motorists was not jeopardised by such practices.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ayyarappan said truck drivers who park their vehicles in front of tea shops and eateries were not even following basic safety norms of switching on the parking lights to warn motorists coming from behind. “Often motorists, including commuters riding two-wheelers, are caught unawares,” he said.

N. Saravanan, another road safety activist, observed that even though truck lay bays have been provided on the Tiruchi-Chennai National Highway, many truckers park do not use the facilities.

“Many truckers park their vehicles along the sides of highway unmindful of the danger posed to the other motorists. Whenever the drivers are fatigued or want to attend to nature’s calls or visit the tea-shops or eateries, they just park the vehicles on the sides of the highways without any warning indicators. Even reflector stickers are not available at the rear of many trucks. The authorities should at least ensure that all trucks had the triangular reflector signs are available in the vehicles,” Mr. Saravanan said.