Plight of heavy vehicles drivers
Dear Sir,
I am writing on behalf of all unhappy drivers of heavy vehicles (lorries and prime-movers) to Singapore Government who we think it's time to take a very serious attention to our plights and make necessary moves to change or improve the law that is fair for people like us.
Generally, most of us (90%) are low income earners and we have to work very hard and long irregular hours although for not having enough time to rest or eat so as that we could provide enough necessities to our family with comfort livings despite the reality which we as Singaporeans have to face for such high living costs we are living in. As blue-collar workers, most of us do not have high academic qualifications but as responsible bread-winners, we are doing our level best to provide the best for our beloved family. However, we strongly feel that we've been discrimated by a recent unfair policy from the Government who imposed a new rule to strict our vehicle speed to the maximum of 60 km/h which had made things difficult for us and miserable. This rule was imposed shortly after the accident occurred between one of the government's MP's wife and a lorry sometimes ago which resulted to the death of the said MP's wife. We regretted the incident that had happened and felt sorry for the dead woman's family but we strongly feel that 'a pail of milk has been destroyed just because of a drop of red ink' and all the lorry drivers have to be made to suffer just because of one negligence act that one of the driver made on that fateful day.
We pointed out about the driving speed should be at the normal rate not because we want it for some irresponsible acts such as speeding on the road but it is necessary for the convenience purpose especially when we need to tag heavy containers or for overtaking purpose in a save manner. We are extremely disappointed and depressed because at most of the time we are always to blame for being inconsiderate road users but the facts is, we are not that as bad as some people might think. Like everyone else, we are human-being too and we have no reason why we would want to risk our life, job and especially with family that we love, to put somebody else into any danger while we are on the road. As the matter of fact, we are always the most careful one and gives lots of way for other vehicles, especially for cars and motorists, whom we think takes most of life for granted. We said so because we knew and always aware that if accident should take place between cars, motorcycles or any small vehicles and heavy vehicles, the impact of the damage would be more worst to small vehicles, like we've mentioned. That is why we are always careful to drive to ensure everybody safety and not to put anyone life at danger despite of many occasions which we came across whereby some cars and especially motorcyclists who deliberately speeds like nobody business and came very closed to our vehicles which could endanger their lives if they should being hit accidently.
On top of that, we strongly feel the Government is not being fair for people like us in terms of providing parking lots. We can see that most places in Singapore, especially in HDB estates, parking lots are being built to suit majority for cars, vans, motorcycles and small pick-ups but nothing at all for big vehicles such as lorries, prime-movers and small buses. The places which these parking lots for heavy vehicles are being provided are usually very far from home and the users had to use some other way of transport to get to their parking lots OR WORST, no parking lots for heavy vehicles at all! Why is that so?? Didn't the Government realise that we contribute to the growth of Singapore's economy, too? Or simply cannot be bothered for such situation although this plights has been in the reality of all the Lorry drivers very long time ago? When comes to fine, we suffered the most because of the fee and the points. To the extend we have to say that we could be fined for having fast lunch (this is due to parking problem because where can we find a place to eat conveniently and safely in Singapore such as hawker or food centres that provide parking lots for heavy vehicles without being worried to get fined from Traffic Police or Parking Attendants??) As such, most of us have to skip our breaks at most of the time and at times when we are lucky, we have a very fast break to eat our food in our lorry if we have the opportunity. Obviously, we are having hard times with our working life with these plights which we are facing mostly everyday and sadly, there is nothing the Government could do to relief these plights nor to understand it.
Our main concern is, we hope that after writing these plights, the Government could comes up something to improve the situations. We appreciate greatly if our plights has been heard and being taken seriously as much as we hope it would.
Thank you.
Md Salleh Ahmad, NRIC:S1402244-I