Danger lurks when participating in traffic in industrial zones

HAUNTED BY LACK OF STREET LIGHTS

At 6:00 p.m., on the road leading to Nam Cam Industrial Park, from Nam Cam intersection to Ong Dieu intersection, it was completely dark. This is a road section with many large trucks carrying goods to and from Cua Lo Port and Nam Cam Industrial Park, and is also a road section with many workers from Nam Cam Industrial Park participating in traffic. Except for the road section in front of Nam Cam Industrial Park gate, which has a little dim light coming from the businesses, the rest is completely pitch black. To move on the road, drivers rely entirely on the light of the vehicle. Therefore, in situations such as vehicles lacking headlights or inadequate headlights, vehicles going in the opposite direction with their headlights on, or on foggy days... the risk of traffic accidents is inevitable.

The road from Nam Cam intersection to Ong Dieu intersection in front of Nam Cam Industrial Park has many large vehicles and workers traveling but there are no lights. Photo: DT

Ms. Le Thi Nhan - a worker at Nam Cam Industrial Park, worried: “Many truck drivers on this route drive quite fast and recklessly. When cars are avoiding each other, I have to stay close to the edge of the road for more safety. However, moving in low light conditions makes it difficult for me to observe obstacles on the road. On rainy days, the risk of traffic accidents is even higher. This lack of safety makes me very reluctant to work the night shift.”

Sharing about this issue, Ms. Anh Lam - Chairman of the Trade Union of BSE Electronics Co., Ltd. expressed her concern: "According to the survey of the Executive Committee of our company's trade union, the road from Nam Cam Industrial Park to Cua Lo Town, the National Highway 1A section from the Industrial Park to Quan Hanh Town, National Highway 1A section from the Industrial Park to Dien An Commune (Dien Chau) has no street lights, traffic lights, which is very dangerous when participating in traffic. These are all busy roads.workersIn Nam Cam Industrial Park, heavy trucks circulate and traffic accidents often occur. Therefore, we earnestly request the province to install additional street lights and traffic signals on the above roads.

The unfinished manhole on Ho Ngoc Lam Street - the main road leading to Bac Vinh Industrial Park, is dangerous for pedestrians when traveling at night. Photo: DT

Not only in Nam Cam Industrial Park, the lack of street lights is also a nightmare for many workers in other industrial parks in the area.

Mr. Tran Thang - a worker at Sangwoo Co., Ltd. (in VSIP Industrial Park) shared: "The road we take to go home from work at night is very dark while the street lights and traffic signals are often broken, making accidents likely to happen. I really hope that the authorities will add a lighting system and traffic signals on National Highway 46B to ensure traffic safety for us when we go home from work."

Regarding traffic lights, in the document of recommendations from workers that the Dong Nam Economic Zone Union has compiled, there are many opinions and recommendations on installing additional traffic light systems at intersections and crossroads leading into and out of the industrial zone. In fact, many serious accidents have occurred at these hot spots.

MANY UNSOLVED PROBLEMS

Besides the lighting problem, many roads in and around industrial parks have not received proper attention in construction and repair, leading to many inconveniences for traffic participants.

On days of heavy rain, the roads in Nam Cam and Bac Vinh Industrial Parks are often flooded, causing many difficulties for workers. Ms. Ho Thuy Nga - a worker at BSE Electronics Company Ltd., said in frustration: "The flooding from the Industrial Park gate to the company gate has caused my motorbike to stall many times, forcing me to walk, resulting in late work and high repair costs. Although the flooding has not caused any accidents, many of us have fallen off our motorbikes while traveling through this section of road."

Road section often flooded in Nam Cam Industrial Park. Photo DT

Road D2 in Bac Vinh Industrial Park is also a “famous” flooding spot that causes a lot of trouble for workers here. On days of heavy rain, this road often causes workers’ motorbikes to stall. It is known that this flooding situation is caused by the fact that the drainage system in the industrial parks is not guaranteed while the roads in the industrial parks are lower than the surrounding areas.

For many years now, Ho Ngoc Lam Street has been in disrepair, becoming a source of frustration for workers in Bac Vinh Industrial Park and surrounding residents. Although not large, the traffic volume on this street is very heavy, especially during rush hour and work hours.

Traffic safety hotspot in front of the gate of Minh Anh Kim Lien Garment Joint Stock Company on Dang Thai Mai Street (Bac Vinh Industrial Park). Photo: DT

"Because I live in Quan Bau ward and work atBac Vinh Industrial ParkSo for many years now, I have been traveling on this road almost every day. When I saw the degraded road being upgraded and repaired, I was very happy. However, the current state of unfinished construction and lack of lighting makes the road seem like it has been "trapped". Many times my colleagues and I have fallen off our bikes when passing through this section of road on rainy days" - Ms. Thuy, a worker at Minh Tri Company Limited confided.

Another reality that workers want the authorities to consider and resolve is the chaotic traffic situation in industrial zones during rush hours, especially rush hour. When workers get off work, the area in front of the factory gates and industrial zones is crowded with people. Not to mention, some spontaneous markets have sprung up to serve the shopping needs of workers, making these roads even more chaotic. The frequent passing of heavy trucks makes the risk of traffic accidents very high.

Workers parked their vehicles haphazardly on the road in Nam Cam Industrial Park, at the spontaneous market in front of the gate of BSE Electronics Company Limited. Photo: DT

Ms. Le Thi Mai - workerworking at Nam Cam Industrial Parkshared: “On weekdays or paydays, there are a lot of trading activities in front of the company gate, workers' motorbikes are parked almost all over the road. At times like that, if a large vehicle enters, it will be very dangerous.”