Lorry operators in Coimbatore have been asked by the Rural Police to take adequate precautionary measures to avoid accidents caused by negligent parking of lorries on the sides of highways at night.
The instructions were given in the wake of the death of eight persons after the car they travelled rammed a stationary lorry near Samayapuram toll plaza on the Chennnai - Tiruchi Highway in the early hours of Sunday.
Superintendent of Police for Coimbatore Rural R. Pandiarajan, who chaired the meeting, instructed lorry owners to use vacant places and designated parking bays for halting lorries. They were also advised to use reflector strips at the rear of the lorries and caution signs to be placed on the road in case of unexpected breakdown of vehicle. For long trips, lorry owners were advised to employ two drivers.
Lorry owners from Thadagam, Sirumugai, Sulur, Mettupalayam, Pollachi, Annur, Karamadai, and Chettipalayam took part in the meeting.
M. Jebadas, president of lorry owners’ association at Pollachi, complained that theft of diesel was very rampant during long trips from Coimbatore to other districts. This was a disturbing trend as the fuel price was sky rocketing, he said.
“We have been advised by the SP to represent the issue before the police in Madurai,” Mr. Jebadas added.