Truculent Trucks

The rising incidence of truck-caused accidents is a cause for alarm, for it affects the safety of everyone on the highways. Our staff writer John Kendall spelled out the details of the crisis in Monday’s Times. Much more needs to be known about accidents before new safety programs can be implemented. But it is clear that a minority of drivers and operators are responsible for most of the problems.

All motorists can help. The California Trucking Assn., which represents the companies hauling 85% of the freight on the state’s highways, has enlarged its citizen hot-line program to make available report forms at all offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol. The forms are also available directly from the association at 1251 Beacon Blvd., West Sacramento 95691. Incidents can also be reported by telephone--in Southern California to (818) 442-8120.

The truckers want all cases of unsafe or discourteous driving reported, and they also want to hear about examples of commendable performance by drivers. Fair enough. Reports will be effective only if detailed, including the California “T” or ICC number from the driver’s door, the date, time, place, direction of travel and an outline of what happened.