Lorry drivers all over Europe have been urged to sign a petition that demands better protection for truckers amid a series of high profile incidents, including a migrant attack in Calais and the killing of a driver at a French lorry park. The petition will be sent to European Union officials on Tuesday, a day after the second “Je Suis Mihai” protest takes place.
Daniel Grasu, who organised the first “Je Suis Mihai” protest (named after the driver who was killed) on Monday, told Trans.INFO’s Romanian service earlier this week that he had received several thousand messages of support from colleagues, not only Romanians, but also truck drivers all over Europe.
At the same time, Daniel is determined to continue the protest in a peaceful manner until drivers’ voices are heard by the authorities. The trucker has invited his fellow professionals to take part in a second protest next Monday, May 31st, at 12pm.
The plan on this occasion is for lorry drivers to reduce their vehicles’ speed on motorways to 80 km/h, and on national roads to 50 km/h, for at least 15 minutes. Just as was the case in the first protest, truck drivers should also display the message “Je Suis Mihai ” on the windscreen or tie a black ribbon on their side-mirror.
It is up to us to change things if we want to, we can’t wait for others to do it. It is up to each of us to make this small gesture in the memory of our colleague, but also for ourselves. Because we can’t turn our back on our colleague, we need to sound the alarm for ourselves and the safety of our roads. I urge you to take part next week at 12 o’clock, whoever wants, whoever thinks he deserves better; it costs nothing to anyone, you only need to want to take part”, said Daniel Grasu.
Popular Romanian truck blogger Povești de prin parcări has also urged lorry drivers to sign a petition that is to be sent to European Union officials on Tuesday.
Writing on Facebook, the blogger admits that many perceive petitions to be a waste of time, but stresses that it is very easy to sign and that he is determined to do something to bring positive change:
Many of you will say it’s useless. To that I’d say, have you tried it and failed? It will fail if you don’t care, sit on Facebook and criticize without doing anything. Maybe you’re right, it’s useless, but I want to see that it’s useless, to try and fail. But at least I will be content with myself, because at least I tried. So please, fill out the petition those who haven’t already – don’t forget to confirm the signature in the email and let’s show Brussels that we truck drivers can be united and we really want change. Safe travels to all colleagues.
At the time of publication, the petition has almost 18,000 signatories.
Photo credit: John Firth / Geograph UK + Petition Screenshot