Heather Robinson

The word 'obesity' conjures up several images, all with the same outcome: overweight, fat, chubby, stout and corpulent. This word is usually used to refer to human beings, and sometimes we hear it being used in reference to dogs, pigs and other animals. Today, however, I want to spend some time looking at the word 'obesity' in reference to some trucks that are currently driving on our roads.

Two of Jamaica's roads are the best known beneficiaries of these overloaded, sagging and heavily burdened trucks. The first is the main road leading from Harbour View to as far as Morant Bay in St. Thomas, and the second is from Angels in Spanish Town to Moneague in St. Ann, via the Bog Walk gorge and Mount Rosser. During the last couple of weeks I have had the unfortunate experience of driving on both roads, and what an experience!

The main entrance to St. Thomas from Kingston has fallen victim to obese trucks that pull sand and stone into Kingston on a daily basis. The road has become undulating and at several places has deteriorated to such a point that one has to drive below 10 miles per hour. The road surface is also strewn with, or has a heavy sprinkling of sand and stone, making it dangerous and difficult to negotiate by both the familiar and unfamiliar driver. This road has several dangerous corners, and these huge trucks and trailers monopolise and commandeer the narrow and winding road.

Loose material

There appears to be very little effort being made to remove the loose material from the road surface, or to repair those portions that have been gouged out by the tyres of these overloaded trucks. One can only wonder who should be responsible for repairing these roads. Shouldn't the Government establish a permanent scale somewhere along the road to weigh these trucks and fine them for being overweight?

Persons who use the Mount Rosser road regularly must be happy with the improvements that are taking place there, to repair the road surface and widen it at some of the more dangerous corners. But each time one has to climb Mount Rosser, one does so with much trepidation. The big question is always: how much extra time should I add to my trip to get to Ocho Rios or Montego Bay on time, one hour or three hours? Who can predict? No one can.

There are instances of a minister of government being stranded there for four hours, and a councillor who, after a five-hour wait, could not attend a function as her feet were too swollen to fit in any of her shoes.

Invariably, trucks break down on Mount Rosser because they are carrying excessive weight, being driven by inexperienced drivers or are suffering from lack of proper servicing. And yes, some get single or multiple flat tyres, usually at a corner.

Long 'trains'

These trailers rarely ever believe that they should allow small vehicles to overtake them, and boast how long is the 'train' they have 'following back a dem'.

What can be done to improve the state of mind of motorists who have to use these roads? The closure of the Mount Rosser road to trucks and trailers between three and nine on Tuesday morning must have provided many motorists with high levels of pleasure while being able to drive up and down unimpeded. Oh, that it would always be like this!

But, clearly, permanent and lasting solutions are needed for these obese trucks and trailers. First, install scales. Second, institute exorbitant fines that are to be paid immediately, and seize the trucks. Such actions will result in immediate weight loss and remove the obese trucks and trailers from our roads.