AR drivers need safe parking now
Page 20
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AFTER A NUMBER of years campaigning for better overnight parking facilities and meeting government officials in 2000. I am concerned the following incident failed to raise a great deal of attention with the public.
On page 22 of the Daily Mirror, Saturday 6 February, the headline shouted: "Trucker in hijack hell."
The story went on to say:"A gang kidnapped a lorry driver asleep in a service area and dumped him 100 miles away after driving off with his load of Lego and beauty products.
The victim, 39, was grabbed in Kettering, Northants. tied up, put in another vehicle and left by a Staffordshire road hours later. He was unhurt."
How this incident was reported shows how seriously the media take such an event. They first mention that part of the load was Lego, and insinuate it was more of a laugh then a serious incident.
They then go on to finish that the driver was unhurt, as though being tied up. bundled into another vehicle and left stranded is OK. How many more of these events will we have to endure in the haulage industry?
Isn't it about time that the government worked with local authorities to start building safe and affordable overnight parking in every town in the UK?
Jack Crossfield Droylsden, Manchester Ed's note: We reported on this incident on the Roadtransport.com Lorry Crime Blog, where our own Joanna Bourke said: "I can only begin to imagine what a horrendous ordeal this must have been. How easy is it to avoid such situations? Have you heard of similar hijacks, or have you, in fact, been a victim of one yourself? Any thoughts, I want to hear..."
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