Letters to the Editor - June 11, 2008

Staff
Published: June 11, 2008

My concern is the increased tractor trailer traffic on Elon Rd., Virginia 130. As anyone who uses this road can see, the truck traffic has quadrupled or more since the new U.S. 29 bypass opened. 

These truckers are using a shortcut to I-81 and other destinations.  Virginia 130 is certainly not a tractor trailer designed road.  Just today, I counted 16 tractor trailers from Virginia 650 to U.S. 29.

The trucks were going west and I was going east to 29.  Some of these trucks hit the hollows at least 70 mph to make it over the next hill. This morning, below the packing shed west of Elon, I met a west bound chip truck totally straddling yellow line and running 75 mph., and after getting onto my shoulder of the road, I avoided a crash by about 12 inches. 

For the most part, companys such as Harris trucking , J.B.Hunt and other professionals drive responsibly, but the area sawmill truckers are a menace to the public.  By using cast off trailers and inexperienced drivers we are at risk. 

I call on our elected officials, the board of supervisors, the Sheriff’s Office and VDOT to address this problem before a family gets wiped out or a school bus is destroyed by these hazards. 

1) Truck speed limits should be reduced to 45 mph. 2) Radar should be set up at the bottom of hills by the Sheriff’s Office. 3) Trailer inspections should be set up at places such as the water department, dumpsters, and other suitable locations. See how many fail. This may discourage many truckers to avoid this shortcut and result in the less chance of a catastrophic accident. I know when you meet one of these jockeys at 75 mph., bouncing up and down in his seat with his CB in his hand and facing you head on, fuel cost is the least of my concerns.  By the way, when was the last time you saw a tractor trailer pulled over by either the state police or Sheriff’s Office on Elon Rd.?

Alton W. Davis
Monroe