People need solutions, not excuses for highway collapses

A highway ramp collapsed in South China's Guangdong province on June 19, 2015. [Photo/chinanews.com]

On Friday, one person died and four people were injured when part of the highway that connects Guangzhou and Jiangxi provinces collapsed at the exit to Heyuan while four trucks were on it. Reports say that the road was constructed in August 2005 with a quality guarantee of 100 years. But media reports suggest the road was poorly built with journalist on the scene finding holes in a cross-section of the cement. However, the construction company said the four trucks were overloaded. Comments:

It is too early and arbitrary for the construction company to conclude that "overloaded trucks" caused the accident. They haven't answered the now widespread doubts about the holes in the cement. A quality check on the road is needed to clear the suspicions.

Beijing News, June 21

Even if overloaded trucks caused the accident as the construction company claims, there are still some bureaucrats who should be held responsible for the accident. Have managers of the highway illegally allowed overloaded trucks to enter the highway? If yes, they should be held answerable.

Southern Metropolis Daily, June 21

Overloading has long been an open secret nationwide. Many drivers complain about it, but because highway managers collect so much in fees the truck operators can hardly earn any profit if they don't overload their trucks. That has formed a vicious circle, in which drivers risk their safety while consumers have to bear the high costs of the products transported. It is necessary to reform the highway fee system so as to curb the problems associated with overloaded trucks.

fawan.com, June 21

There have been many such accidents in the past and every time the construction companies use overloaded trucks as their excuse. The widespread doubt against them this time shows how tired the public is of this explanation. People do not need excuses; they need a solution so such accidents do not happen again.

rednet.cn, June 21