Poland’s Transport and Logistics Association says it’s “high time” to ensure the safety of lorry drivers in France, and has written to France’s Ambassador to Poland to demand better protection of drivers amid a string of recent migrant attacks on truckers.
In a statement published yesterday, Transport Logistyka Polska (TLP) described the current situation as “completely unacceptable” and slammed French police officers for their supposed passivity when it comes to attacks on trucks and drivers.
The statement echoes similar sentiments to the open letter signed by 8 Romanian MEPs earlier this week.
A rough translation of the TLP statement reads as follows:
We are still receiving very disturbing information about the extremely difficult situation of drivers transporting goods through France to Great Britain. Armed groups of illegal immigrants attack drivers not only in guarded parking lots, but also on the main access roads to the ports of Calais and Dunkirk. The problem has not been resolved by the French services for years. Therefore, the TLP is intervening once again on this issue. We have sent a letter to the French Ambassador to Poland requesting appropriate measures to eliminate this dangerous practice and ensure the safety of professional drivers.
Polish carriers report that attacks on drivers by organized immigrant groups have increased significantly in recent days. Drivers are concerned for their lives and health. The attackers use dangerous tools, destroy vehicles and the loads carried in them. In addition, they act with great fury and aggression towards drivers. Carriers are forced to incur huge costs related to the repair of vehicles and their immobilization.
This situation is completely unacceptable. The passivity of the French public order services should change; effective measures to solve the problem are needed as soon as possible. In the opinion of TLP, appropriate systemic changes in French legislation and a change in the approach to the issue of illegal immigrants who commit robberies, who feel like they have completely impunity, are necessary. The health and life of all people is paramount. This also applies to professional drivers who perform their hard work on a daily basis.
Photo credits: Marián Íonel Petrí / SOFER + CATERINCA de ROMANIA / Ed Rogers / E.M Rogers Transport
