Trucks reversing on streets, especially in large cities like Hanoi, are becoming a serious traffic problem, posing a risk of fatal accidents. This seemingly harmless action contains countless risks, not only causing traffic jams but also directly threatening the lives of road users. Many tragic accidents have been recorded due to careless or unobservant truck reversing, causing painful consequences.
A truck reverses towards the median strip to turn around towards Phan Rang – Thap Cham City, causing many vehicles to avoid it.
“Reversing” to Avoid Tolls and Unforeseen Consequences
Recently, on national highways and even in inner Hanoi, it is not difficult to see trucks and dump trucks carrying construction materials brazenly reversing for tens or even hundreds of meters. The purpose of this action is often to avoid toll booths, enter prohibited roads, or simply save travel time. However, driving a truck in reverse, especially on busy roads, poses countless dangers.
In the area leading to the Giăng mountain quarry, near the Cà Ná church (Ninh Thuan), trucks carrying construction materials from the quarry have been reversing 70m on National Highway 1 to avoid toll booths for a long time. According to local residents, dozens of large trucks brazenly reverse every day, posing a danger to other vehicles and pedestrians.
Tragic Accidents and Costly Lessons
The incident in Ninh Thuan is not an isolated case. In fact, there have been many serious traffic accidents caused directly by trucks reversing. On October 8th, also near the Cà Ná church, there were two consecutive traffic accidents, including one that killed one person and one that caused property damage and injured people. This raises an alarm about the dangers of truck reversing, especially in densely populated areas with high traffic density like Hanoi.
More dangerously, trucks are often large with wide blind spots, making it difficult for drivers to see the entire space behind the vehicle when reversing. In a crowded urban environment like Hanoi, where there are many motorbikes, bicycles, and pedestrians, truck reversing becomes even more dangerous. With just a little carelessness, a moment of inattention, an accident can happen at any time, taking the lives of innocent people.
What Solutions are There for the Truck Reversing Problem?
To solve the problem of truck reversing, there needs to be a synchronized effort from functional agencies and law-abiding awareness from road users.
On the part of state management agencies, it is necessary to strengthen patrols, inspections, and strictly handle violations of traffic laws, especially the act of driving trucks in reverse on roads not in accordance with regulations. At the same time, it is necessary to review traffic planning, organize traffic reasonably, reduce congestion, and create favorable conditions for trucks to move without having to “reverse” to cope.
A reversing truck damages many concrete drainage covers along National Highway 1.
On the part of businesses and truck drivers, it is necessary to raise awareness of compliance with traffic laws, putting safety first. Transportation businesses need to increase education and training for drivers on safe driving skills, especially reversing skills in narrow spaces and densely populated areas. Equip full reversing support devices such as reversing cameras and reversing sensors to increase visibility and minimize blind spots.
Area of the road leading to the Giăng mountain quarry.
Conclusion
The problem of truck reversing, especially in large cities like Hanoi, is a serious traffic issue that requires the joint efforts of the entire community. To prevent tragic accidents, every road user needs to raise awareness of compliance with the law, drive responsibly, and always put the safety of themselves and others first. Only then can we build a civilized, safe traffic environment and minimize the painful consequences caused by truck reversing.
