Praveen Hede
With the daily increase in the density of traffic on the roads, it is prudent that huge lorries traveling interstate should be equipped with all the safety features necessary; unfortunately, this is not so. It is easily noticeable that vehicles entering Goa from other neighbouring states are loaded to the hilt, that too without proper fastening. Things have reached such a state that goods not properly fastened by one such interstate lorry have even fallen out, just missing the following, unsuspecting vehicle by inches.
Also, construction activity in Goa is at its peak and sand, cement and laterite stone suppliers do not take any precautions such as not filling the vehicle to its maximum capacity and covering the material during transportation. Pipe suppliers send their load in such a way that long pipes can be seen protruding out from the trucks; just imagine the impending danger when these spear-like pipes pass through busy city traffic.
Another mistake these out-of-station truckers make is when their vehicles breakdown, especially at night. They leave their vehicles in the middle of the road without even turning on the parking or caution lights! The danger of absence of lights or a barricade with red flags is that any speeding vehicle could easily miss the bulky vehicle in the dark and go head-first into it.
It is essential that the authorities at the check-posts should take stringent action against overloaded carriers that do not follow safety procedures like covering their goods with tarpaulin and properly fastening the goods.
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