Full stop required for large trucks before turning right

Writer: Xia Yuanjie  |  Editor: Holly Wang  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2021-12-03

Heavy-duty cargo trucks turning right are required to come to a complete stop before proceeding and violators will be punished, the city’s traffic police said at a press conference Wednesday.

This year, the city’s large truck-related accidents have resulted in 69 fatalities, with a total of 22 deaths caused by right-turning trucks, accounting for one-third of the total.

Large trucks turning right have blind spots which are larger than standard-sized vehicles. Drivers who are not extra cautious will likely end up in a vehicle collision. Such collisions likely result in pedestrians and nonmotorists being crushed by the trucks, leading to serious injuries or fatalities, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Traffic police have called on all freight transportation enterprises and large truck drivers to strictly follow a four-step procedure when turning right: come to a complete stop, watch for pedestrians and nonmotorists, start the vehicle again and slowly drive into the lane.

The rule governing the righ-turning trucks is found in Shenzhen’s existing laws and regulations. Traffic police have already set up 79 stop signs at 29 crossings in Longgang and Pingshan districts, which has significantly reduced traffic accident risks, according to the Daily.

Authorities will carry out citywide inspections at intersections with heavy cargo truck traffic, erect stop signs and make stop lines.

Lin Qingquan, a police officer from the city’s traffic police bureau information command division, said that they will use on-site inspections and surveillance cameras to check violations involving truck drivers who disobey relevant traffic rules.

Drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians on crosswalks will be fined 500 yuan (US$78.47) and have three penalty points added to their driving license. Drivers who don’t stop and observe their surroundings will be fined 200 yuan and have two penalty points added.

Additionally, traffic police will offer rewards to residents who send information on truck violations. Residents can report via the authority’s official Weibo, WeChat and Alipay accounts as well as submitting dash cam videos.