ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 11, 1997 TAG: 9701130090
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LINIEL GREGORY
IN RESPONSE to J.L. Vannoy's Dec. 29 letter to the editor (``Build special roads for trucks only") as well as to the newspaper's fall series on Interstate 81 ("Scenery's nice; the traffic's not,'' "Dumb cars and dumb trucks," and "Traffic nightmares mar I-81 dream"):
Vannoy makes the reckless statement that ``increasing safety hazards are caused by trucks.'' His ``guess'' that trucks cause ``50 percent of accidents on I-81 and more than 75 percent of accident fatalities'' is too absurd to dignify with a response.
As far as taxing the trucking industry further, he apparently has no clue as to the amount of taxes that trucks presently pay to operate on all highways. In fact, automobiles alone could never support highway construction and maintenance with their license-plate fees and gas taxes.
Truck expressways as described by Vannoy would be ludicrous. Where would these limited accesses, for example, be located? How would trucks get the products to and from the people and plants they serve? Keep in mind that the reason there has been such a dramatic increase in truck traffic is because of demands by the consuming public for food, clothing, furniture, etc., that the rails cannot possibly meet.
Vannoy's letter, like the I-81 series, was filled with negative comments and unsupported statistics. What wasn't said may be more important than what was said.
The real solutions? We can widen and add lanes, reduce or raise speed limits, raise taxes, issue summons, build more rest areas, make safer cars and trucks, etc., but we will continue to have dumb cars and trucks creating traffic nightmares until we educate, educate, educate.
Educate the newest drivers in driving classes in our schools or private courses. We teach them some basics and enough to obtain a valid driver's license. But do we teach them how to co-exist with tractors and semi-trailers on the highway? What classes teach them about the "squeeze play" or blindside accidents that so many four-wheelers get into trying to make a right-hand turn on the inside of a tractor-trailer already in the process of making a wide right-hand turn?
Do we teach them that an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer, traveling at legal speed limits, cannot possibly stop in the distance it takes an automobile to stop, especially when the automobile tries to cut off or dart in front of a tractor-trailer at a traffic light or in a construction zone?
Do we teach them to maintain the speed limit in the left-hand lane or get over in the right-hand lane to allow faster traffic - cars or trucks - to pass?
We have race-car simulators, and have all manner of arcade machines and computer vehicle-road games to play with. But has anyone thought of placing tractor-trailer simulators in the schools or at the local licensing office of the Department of Motor Vehicles to train new (or old) drivers?
Do we teach automobile drivers that they shouldn't drive when they are fatigued, ill or injured? Truck drivers are taught this, and the law provides for penalties if they do not obey.
Trucks are going to be here for the long haul. Legislators, educators, insurance companies, businesses, federal and state regulatory agencies and others must come together to educate and ensure that all drivers learn how to share the road and respect others' driving privileges.
As the one responsible for safety at my company, I conduct quarterly, mandatory meetings for our drivers where they are rewarded with cash bonuses for safe driving. And the latest in safe-driving concepts, ideas, methods and other topics are presented to promote safe operation of our trucks and good will toward the general motoring public. We also penalize unsafe drivers.
My company subscribes to a nationwide pre-employment testing program designed to help us hire smarter and reduce driver turnover. This, if successful, should produce safer driving records, good customer relations, retention of drivers, and more revenue and profit to the motor carriers.
In 1991, the Federal Highway Administration instituted proceedings to determine training requirements for entry-level drivers of commercial motor vehicles. The deadline for comments has been extended.
The American Trucking Association, the Virginia Trucking Association, North Carolina Motor Truck Association and other state associations ought to formulate a program to submit to the U.S. Department of Transportation that prescribes safety regulations.
In addition, the states' Departments of Motor Vehicles should implement joint accreditation to truck-driving schools, their instructors and curriculum, to ensure that prospective truck drivers are thoroughly schooled in all aspects of driving, with the primary focus on safety.
The education concept will be easier and less expensive than paying for loss of lives, damages to property, higher insurance premiums and litigation. Everyone will win. Vannoy ought to consider being the first to enroll in an adult "retreading class" to learn the real facts about cars, driving, taxes, etc.
Liniel Gregory of Roanoke is a safety consultant who works for Fleetmaster Express Inc.
LENGTH: Medium: 91 linesby CNB