‘Stop the Rocks’ Bill Weakened

Who knows more about motor vehicle traffic and its hazards than the people who every day and night deal in the subject? That’s right, no one knows more about the subject than the Highway Patrol, and the California Highway Patrol favored the “Stop the Rocks” bill but “was forced to pull its support on orders from the Deukmejian Administration,” as reported in, “Bill to Control Rocks Off Trucks Weakened,” (Part I, June 18).

I would suggest that the weakening of the “Stop the Rocks” bill to the extent that its key element was removed, “a requirement that trucks cover their cargo sections with tarpaulins or other covers,” mainly to eliminate the hazards related to flying sand and gravel from such trucks cracking and breaking windshields causing secondary loss of control of cars, either from the windshield damage or from evasive maneuvers to avoid the sand or gravel, is a scandalous outrage of the first order. The truck lobby has argued that covering trucks is too costly.

How costly is just one death or injury secondary to the irresponsible and shameful conduct of truckers who allow their cargo to fly off in the air at speeds and energies that are destructive, dangerous and potentially lethal if they make contact with other vehicles on the road or persons riding in convertibles with open windows or pedestrians? Anyway, the increased cost would be passed on to the consumer and well worth the cost; a “cover charge” so to speak.

It may be that before a sane bill is passed by the Legislature to enforce responsible hauling of cargo by truckers we’re going to have to get rid of those in the Deukmejian Administration, in the trucking industry and the Legislature, specifically in the Senate Transportation Committee who have rocks in their heads, and value the finances of the trucking industry more highly than they do the vehicles and lives of the balance of the voting citizenry. Let’s “Stop the Rocks” in the heads of those opposing the bill to control rocks flying off trucks.

SYLVAIN FRIBOURG

Woodland Hills