Trucks, tankers add to Jeddah traffic woes

Jeddah drivers who own small cars complained about the dangers of heavy trucks and tankers who put other motorists at risk, as they don’t respect traffic regulations.
According to drivers who navigate through the streets of Jeddah everyday, the threat drastically increases when a car gets stuck in traffic behind tankers carrying cement, steel or other heavy material. Motorists fear that this kind of equipment will fall on their car, causing severe injuries or death, since the trucks don’t abide to official cargo regulations.
Other drivers and pedestrians claim some trucks stop at the entrances and main squares of cities and neighborhoods, without official permission. Residents argue they have no knowledge of what happens inside these parked trucks, though they suspect many times drivers use them to take naps or sleep during the night.
Mohamed Daifallah, a family car driver, told Arab News that he had a near miss with one of these trucks on the road. “I was driving on Al-Haramain Road when I saw a large number of huge electric cables falling down on the street from the back of a heavy truck,” he said. “I was lucky enough to survive this careless act which could have ended very badly,” Daifallah added.
Daifallah called on authorities, particularly the traffic department, to organize training workshops for drivers, to raise awareness about proper driving and safety regulations on the road.
Student Fahd Al-Sulami faces another problem as he walks to school every day. Parked trucks on both sides of Al-Safa neighborhood obstruct his daily journey, especially when sewage tankers stop near the area. “These trucks generally park a for long time while drivers go about their businesses as if the spot was registered under their names,” he said.
On the other hand, truck driver Mohamed Shawkat claimed he parks his truck in the Al-Safa neighborhood as it’s the closest to his home and work place. “I try as much as possible to avoid parking in residential areas so not to annoy people living there,” he said.
Jeddah Traffic Department spokesman Gen. Zaid Al-Hamzi told Arab News that all violating trucks will be punished, adding that traffic patrols survey neighborhoods to monitor violations.