Dreaded six-wheelers on the prowl

Dreaded six-wheelers on the prowl
Nina C George
They are the proverbial bulls in the china shop. For the nearly 4,000 lorries that ply in and out of the City everyday, are a law unto themselves. No wonder they top the list of traffic offenders and are the major cause of accidents in the City.

Yet, there is no wishing away these lorries. From perishables to all that goes into making the brick and mortar of the City, they ferry all that the City and its denizens need. They are the virtual lifeline of the City.

According to G R Shanmugappa, president of the Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners and Agents (Association) close to 300 loads of vegetables, 400 loads of cement, 2,500 loads of sand and 330 loads of concrete are being transported into the City everyday.

But the City police take a dim view of things. According to statistics available with them, the total cases of accidents (fatal and non-fatal) registered against lorries are 1,387 in 2003, 1,256 in 2004, 1,193 in 2005, 1174 in 2006 and 635 up to June 30 this year. The total number of accidents have not reduced considerably in the last five years.

Lorries are caught violating every traffic regulation with impunity. They are prime culprits when it comes to offenses like parking on the wrong side, reckless driving, overloading, defective silencers, shrill horns, drivers without licence, jumping traffic signals and no entry curbs, defective headlights and overtaking from left. And, the City Police believe these offences are the cause for most accidents caused by them.

"We find lorries racing across congested parts of the City. There is a constraint to enforcing rules against violators because of a manpower shortage and the fear that stopping lorries may cause traffic blocks. If the policeman stops a lorry driver on a busy stretch, traffic on these roads piles up and the roads are clogged. Clearing these blocks become a herculean task. Where do we have the time for enforcement and get after the offenders," asks a police officer. He adds: "We need an additional 3,000 policemen on road only for enforcement."

The lorries have been restricted from entering the City between 7 am and 10 am and 7 pm and 10 pm. They have to enter the City at night after 10 pm and after 10 am in the morning, finish loading and unloading within a few hours and leave immediately. But this rule is being adhered to more in its violation. It is common to spot lorries in the City as early as 8:30 am at KR Puram, Outer Ring Road, Mahadevapura, Marathahalli, Hosur Road and Bellary Road.

Sources in the City Police say that parking space for the trucks at night is another major problem, as almost all the trucks congregate in the City at the same time. "We must have lorry terminals and some sort of godowns on the outskirts of the City so that lorries can unload the goods there without entering the City. A separate service road exclusively for lorries along the main roads could ease lorry traffic," says a top police official.

Shanmugappa also feels that the government must make provisions for separate access roads for lorries entering and exiting the City. Further, the small warehouses located inside the City should be moved to the outskirts so that lorries have enough parking space, and loading and unloading of goods will be easier.

Appreciating the curbs on the entry of trucks into the City to avoid inconvenience of the public, he says alternative parking spaces must be provided for lorries. He suggests places like Attibele, Hosur, Yelahanka, Kanakapura and KR Puram are ideal locations for warehouses and parking lots.

Sources in the State Regional Transport Department think the idea of truck terminals and shifting warehouses to the City’s outskirts cannot be put off any longer. “The lack of coordination among various departments within the government has been the cause for delay. These terminals would definitely ease congestion within the City. We are working on it,” says the source.

Shanmugappa claims that lorry drivers bribe policemen to enter the City. At least Rs 150 to Rs 200 is paid by a lorry driver whenever he enters or exits the City, he claims. Besides, the punitive fine raised from lorries by the police is nothing less than Rs 60,000 a month. He adds that involvement in any accident means at least Rs 10,000 will have to paid to get the driver off the hook.

1. Overloaded lorries striking against overhead wires are a common sight.
2. Trucks move about freely in school zones unmindful of the dangers of knocking down children.
3. Lorries overtaking from the left and taking abrupt turns often land them in trouble and jeopardise others’ safety.
4. Lorries are well-known for violating road signs.