It has become almost commonplace in the streets of Douala, Yaounde, Bafoussam, Bamenda and Garoua Kumba to find trucks or vehicles of large calibre loaded with logs of wood, sand, gravel and other construction materials at our own risks. Incidents caused by these "crazy truck", is becoming rampant in cities.
To recall a few, an accident occurred on October 16 in Yaoundé Biyem-Assi district which led to the death of many including children from school. Ten days ago another big carrier rushed a shop at Nkolndongo district and many others.
Unfortunately, these incidents continue to repeat itself. On September 30, a truck carrying a container of 20 lost control in Ndokoti in Douala, following the failure of the brake system. Thus, the Super-Jumbo made a real carnage at rush hour, with many dead and injured. The most disturbing fact is that similar disasters occurred at the same location in 2009 and 2011.
As in a classic melodrama, these various accidents unfortunately had some points of convergence that underpin a unity of place and action. In most cases, alcohol or sleeping at the wheel go hand in hand with external factors related to the State of the pavement or the vehicle.
The recurrence of traffic accidents involving big carriers in cities highlights two factors essential to consider. Firstly, the approximate technical condition of vehicles and large aircraft and others, non-compliance with the legislation designed to regulate their traffic in urban areas where the simple speed limit is trampled upon.
Moreover, a regulatory device prevents the movement of large carriers in the city between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., the question is why has the texts which regulate this type of activity never been applied?
Despite the instructions of the administrative authority, banned trucks manage to cross different checkpoints to the urban centre.
