A group of lorry drivers based near the UK’s biggest container port, the Port of Felixstowe, have spoken out about the difficulties they face in their profession. More than 250,000 hauliers traverse the UK’s roads, keeping the economy running. Driver Graham Barnes, from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, expressed concerns about the limited availability of safe places in which to stop, gain access to medical care and other services whilst away from home, and poorly maintained roads. Many of these issues were raised by the drivers who spoke to the BBC. Others called for better policing to crack down on reckless drivers who they say pose a risk to themselves and others.
The drivers also highlighted issues with their diets and the health implications associated with lack of access to healthy, balanced food. The lack of infrastructure for drivers was also a concern, as well as the seemingly endless roadworks. All of these difficulties have made life as a lorry driver challenging. One driver present in Felixstowe, Steve Pole, stated that he has “had enough” of life on the road due to issues such as selfish motorists and congestion, which impact routes such as the Dartford Crossing.
The drivers’ requests to politicians were straightforward: better provision of secure facilities for rest stops, less use of hard shoulders as carriageways, and additional investment to help make sure lorry-driving is a viable, long-term profession. The drivers also suggested ring-fencing GP appointments for those who work away from home, as accessing medical care can be a challenge for those working on the road. Many of the UK’s truck stops have closed due to land values, which can make it more profitable to build warehouses or houses. Political investment in the transport industry infrastructure was suggested as essential to the future of lorry driving in the UK.
The BBC interviewed several lorry drivers in Felixstowe about the challenges they face, including the ring road’s poorly designed roundabouts, which are supposedly from the 1960s and cause delays, as well as the roads being generally in a very poor condition. Haulage is crucial to the UK economy, and truck drivers can clock up hundreds of miles and work long hours over several days, leading to increased health problems like limited access to healthy food and lack of medical care. The drivers called on politicians to address these issues and ultimately improve their working conditions
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