State road 106 Jonica, sadly known as the “road of death”, continues to claim innocent victims. The recent tragedy that occurred on the Crotone-Corigliano Rossano stretch is but the latest chapter in a painful and infinite story. Every death along this artery represents a defeat not only for the families affected, but for our entire society and the institutions which, once again, prove incapable of responding adequately to the emergency.
State road 106 is a fundamental communication route for Calabria, connecting population centers, industrial and tourist areas. Yet, despite its importance, it is one of the most dangerous sections of our road system, a road that claims lives due to an obsolete and dangerous infrastructure. You cross towns and cities with intense and poorly regulated traffic, with speed camera plans and tutors that seem to be more of a palliative to raise cash than a concrete solution.
It is disconcerting and unacceptable that the most critical stretch, the one that connects Crotone to Corigliano Rossano, is the last one on which action will be taken. This segment, which should have had absolute priority, is relegated to the bottom of the list of planned interventions. Instead, it was preferred to act on routes such as Roseto-Sibari, Sibari-Coseria and Crotone-Catanzaro, which, although important, do not present the same degree of emergency.
Everyone knows that the Crotone-Corigliano Rossano is the most dangerous stretch of State Road 106, but we prefer to remain silent. It is an inconvenient truth that seems to be ignored by institutions and political decision-makers, despite the evidence of the facts. As director of the I&C newspaper and active member of the Magna Graecia Committee, I feel the duty to reiterate that our appeal cannot go unheard. Every accident, every life broken, is a moral responsibility that weighs on institutions that are slow to intervene. The safety of citizens must be an absolute priority, not an item to be postponed in infrastructure development plans.
The recent death that occurred yesterday along State Road 106 is just the latest confirmation of the urgency of intervening. We cannot allow blood to continue to flow on our streets. The adaptation and safety of the Crotone-Corigliano Rossano section must become an immediate priority that can no longer be postponed. Institutions must respond to a need that is not only material, but also moral. Every delay is an affront to the dignity and safety of the people who travel this road every day.
The lives lost along Highway 106 are an open wound in the heart of our community. It is time for us to act decisively and responsibly to heal it, putting an end to a trail of blood that we can no longer tolerate.
Matteo Lauria – I&C Director
