Bring out bricks, stones, and logs to use as cover!

The practice of using roadsides and sidewalks to dry agricultural products, straw, and thresh rice continues to recur in many localities in Ha Tinh province , posing a potential risk to traffic safety.

At this time, farmers are entering the spring rice harvest season. Along many roads in localities such as Can Loc, Loc Ha, Nghi Xuan, and the outskirts of Ha Tinh City, there is a growing problem of drying rice, straw, potatoes, and corn. Notably, this situation is not only occurring on village roads and alleyways but also on major traffic arteries with high traffic volume.

After threshing, the straw is piled up, blocking the middle of the road. Photo taken in Loc Ha town.

Besides obstructing traffic, drying agricultural products on the road poses numerous traffic accident risks for both people and vehicles. Furthermore, people use bricks, stones, and branches to block and hold down the drying tarpaulins; some even pile up straw in the middle of the road, forcing drivers to slow down or encroach on other lanes.

Ms. Tran Thi Ha (Son Loc commune, Can Loc district) expressed: “I commute to work by car. During the harvest season, whenever I pass through sections of road where straw is being dried, I am very worried about the straw getting caught under my car, especially on roads where people dry straw across the entire road surface, making it unavoidable. It's very dangerous because the straw getting caught in the car poses a high risk of fire or explosion. This situation happens every year, and I hope that the authorities will soon intervene and create separate lanes to ensure the safety of road users.”

Traffic police are urging people not to dry rice on National Highway 15, the section passing through Son Loc commune (Can Loc district).

In reality, there have been numerous traffic accidents primarily caused by people drying agricultural products or threshing rice on the road. Ms. Ha Trang (Co Dam commune, Nghi Xuan district) expressed her frustration: “Two weeks ago, on my way to work, in the section passing through Xuan My commune, the entire road was occupied by people drying sliced ​​sweet potatoes. I couldn't avoid them and was forced to ride on them, resulting in a slippery ride and a fall. My leg is still swollen and painful, and I can't walk normally yet. Luckily, I was going slowly at the time; if I had been going faster, I could have crashed into a ditch, which would have been even more dangerous.”

People are drying corn on the roadside in Xuan Giang commune (Nghi Xuan district).

The practice of drying agricultural products and straw on roads during each harvest season has been recurring for many years, causing frustration among road users. Meanwhile, the act of drying rice, straw, agricultural products, or placing other items on roads is prohibited under the 2008 Road Traffic Law.

To ensure traffic safety and aesthetics on the roads, traffic police forces in many localities have launched campaigns to remind and correct the situation of drying agricultural products, straw, and threshing rice on the road during the peak spring rice harvest season.

Reportedly, the Loc Ha District Police recently issued a document to strengthen inspections and strictly handle violations by people using roadsides to thresh rice, dry rice, straw, seafood, and let cattle roam freely on the roads, causing traffic safety hazards.

Traffic police are cracking down on the practice of drying rice on the road in Thach My commune (Loc Ha district).

Accordingly, the police force has intensified inspections on the roads to raise awareness and remind people to comply with regulations; not to use the road or sidewalk to dry agricultural products. At the same time, they will strictly handle cases of deliberate violations.

People place bricks and stones right in the middle of the road to hold up tarpaulins for drying. Photo taken on Ngo Quyen Street, the section passing through Dong Mon commune (Ha Tinh City).

To rectify this situation, it is first necessary to continue raising public awareness about ensuring safety for themselves and other road users. At the same time, local authorities need to take decisive action and strictly punish violations.

Clauses 2 and 3, Article 8 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulate that placing or leaving obstacles illegally on the road and using the roadbed, roadside, and sidewalk illegally are prohibited acts. Clause d, Article 35 also stipulates that the following acts are prohibited: drying rice, straw, agricultural products, or placing other objects on the road;

Point b, Clause 1, Article 12 of Government Decree 100/2019/ND-CP dated December 30, 2019, on administrative penalties in the field of road and rail transport, stipulates: A fine of VND 100,000 - VND 200,000 shall be imposed on individuals, and VND 200,000 - VND 400,000 on organizations for drying rice, straw, agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products on roads; and for placing rice threshing machines on roads.

In addition, violators will also be subject to remedial measures as stipulated in point a, clause 10, Article 12 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP: "being compelled to remove rice, straw, agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, and equipment from the road."

Khanh Ngoc - Da Vu

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/ban-doc-viet/phoi-lua-lan-duong-biet-roi-kho-lam-noi-mai/248709.htm