ITALY: CHAOS IN ROME STREETS DURING 24-HOUR TRANSPORT STRIKE

Record ID: 342050

  • Title: ITALY: CHAOS IN ROME STREETS DURING 24-HOUR TRANSPORT STRIKE
  • Date: 23rd December 1968
  • Summary: INACTIVE RAILWAY STATION, PEOPLE ORGANISING EMERGENCY TRANSPORT. Initials DHC/V/PN/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th January 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA2JTLSCXE9ECGPWS6TP5NINK6B
  • Story Text: THERE WAS TRAFFIC CHAOS IN THE STREETS OF ROME TODAY AT THE START OF A 24-HOUR TRANSPORT STRIKE IN THE CITY. FURIOUS MOTORISTS FOUGHT EACH OTHER AND CAR HORNS BLARED INCESSANTLY WHEN THE STRIKE THREW THE CITY INTO CONFUSION.

    THOUSANDS OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS AND WORKERS WHO DECIDED TO USE THEIR CARS FOR LACK OF BUSES AND TRAMS FOUND THEMSELVES TRAPPED FOR HOURS IN VAST TRAFFIC JAMS AT EVERY CROSSING. MOTORISTS COMPLAINED THAT IT TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS FOR A JOURNEY THAT NORMALLY TOOK A FEW MINUTES.

    MANY WITHOUT CARS WERE FORCED TO USE ARMY LORRIES OR PRIVATE MOTOR COACHES AND MINI-BUSES, BUT ONCE IN THE CENTRE THEY WERE NO BETTER OFF THAN THE MOTORISTS.

    THE LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS ARE ALWAYS HECTIC IN ITALY BECAUSE ITALIAN WORKERS GET THEIR DECEMBER PAY - USUALLY TWICE OR THREE TIMES THEIR NORMAL MONTH'S SALARY - LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS DAY, LEAVING THEM LITTLE TIME TO BUY PRESENTS, FOOD AND DECORATIONS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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