Summary: Container Lorries

          It is now a common sight to see container lorries moving equipment and goods from one place to another. Has anyone bothered to think about the dangers posed by these containers? Have those at the helm of affairs given any thought to reviving the rail transport which had been “killed” for selfish reasons? Have they thought about the advantages of rail transport over haulage by container lorries?

          One of the dangers posed by these container lorries is the destruction of telephone and electricity wires thus disrupting the communication system and hampering services of the Power Holding Company. More often than not, the container lorries, in an attempt to move goods from one place to another, because of their great height, damage electricity wires and thus throw whole communication or villages or even towns into darkness.

          I once witnessed an incident, which is a common occurrence, in which a container turned over on top of a car. It was quite a sorry sight. The car was damaged beyond repair. There was only one survivor out of the occupants of the car.

          What about the roads on which the container travels? The container lorries, because of their weight, frequently damage portions of the roads on which they travel. Are the drivers or the owners of the container lorries bothered about the damage? No, they are not concerned about the damage done. Unfortunately, the members of the public are made to bear the burden of effecting repairs on the roads. How? By using the taxpayer’s money for the repairs. Thus the taxpayer is made to be responsible for destruction about which they know nothing. Is this fair?

          The drivers of the container lorries regard their vehicles as “king of the road” and so they drive with reckless abandon. They harass and intimidate other road users. The hooting alone is sufficient to frighten other road users out of their wits. There was one incident I witnessed in which a car owner, having been harassed, swerved off the road and landed in a ditch.

          In contrast, rail transport is much better and safer.

          One of the points in favour of reviving rail transport is the fact that it is cheaper to move goods and equipment than these dangers on the road referred to as container lorries. The effect it will have is that the prices of goods and equipment will decrease since the consumer is made to bear the cost of transportation (no matter how high) of the goods purchased.

          Also, the lives of innocent people – car owners or even pedestrians are not endangered by the use of road transport as is often the case with container lorries.