Residents here say that some truck drivers have a blatant disregard for safety. They overload their trucks with cargo to the point where their load exceeds the load capacity of the vehicle. They are also guilty of improper loading and securing the cargo which could create a dangerous situation for other motorists. Traffic police have also been blamed for not inspecting and penalizing these erring drivers. Enterprising expatriate workers are making a living by buying or renting a pick-up truck and transporting construction materials or furniture in the city. However, many of these vehicles have not been registered for such purposes and may be unfit to carry large loads. Customers opt for such delivery services instead of professional moving companies because they come at very low prices. Majed Al-Arwi, a Madinah resident, relates his encounter with one such truck. “Once I was driving behind a small pick-up truck and it was loaded with home furniture that was not properly secured. The driver was unaware when a piece got loose and fell off on the road ahead of me, causing me to swerve around it to avoid running into it. Fortunately the traffic on the highway was light, otherwise it would have gotten ugly. I noted the truck's license plate number and reported the incident to the traffic police to ensure that the driver will be held accountable.” Esa Al-Rishaidi believes that such practices become habitual when an individual places more emphasis on his own personal benefit and financial gain than on the safety of other motorists. “Roads are not owned by any one person that he can do whatever he pleases. They are public property for the use of all citizens and residents. Motorists share the roads with other people; therefore they must obey traffic rules and respect others' rights,” he said. “Hefty fines must be levied on truck drivers who break regulations by overloading their vehicles. The traffic police should be more effective when carrying out their duty and unyielding when punishing truck drivers who fail to comply with the rules,” said another disgruntled Madinah resident, Yasser Al-Mutairi. “It is unfortunate that many important issues in our society are not attentively dealt with until an accident or tragedy occurs.”
