Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 25, 1994 TAG: 9401260031
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf and U.S. Sen. John Warner, both Virginia Republicans, can be proud of their prominent roles in pushing for such legislation.
You could argue the law is unfair because it discriminates against commercial vehicles, which are involved in fewer accidents per miles traveled than automobiles. You would have a point.
But in Virginia, anyway, it isn't discriminatory. State law bans radar detectors in cars, too.
And speed, by whatever kind of vehicle, is a big factor in fatal highway crashes - second only to alcohol. Speeding is particularly dangerous when a massive tractor-trailer is doing it.
So when you discover that a majority of commercial operators use radar detectors, that's worth worrying about.
According to a 17-state study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 52 percent of all trucks and 50 percent of those carrying hazardous materials were using radar detectors.
Why? Unless you are very gullible, you won't believe they're used merely to protect against errant radar devices. The purpose of radar detectors is to facilitate law-breaking.
Studies have shown that truck drivers with radar detectors are two to three times more likely to speed as truckers without them. According to a study by the New York State Police, drivers who travel at speeds of 75 mph or higher are twice as likely to have radar detectors as those who travel more slowly and safely.
Of course, in fatal crashes involving tractor-trailers, car occupants are killed some 90 times as often as the truck occupants. This should make you feel better, if you're a truck driver.
by CNB