Big-Rig Truck Accidents

* Re “Rolling Thunder on the Highways,” Aug. 15:

Neither the Highway Patrol nor Caltrans has the legal authority to ban big-rig trucks from narrow, winding roads. “Off-tracking” occurs around curves, where the truck has no choice but to cross the line into oncoming traffic. One example is two-lane Highway 94 in San Diego County, where big rigs can also avoid the rigorous safety inspections present on major routes. There is legislation in Sacramento to change this. It is called Kim’s Law, after a little girl killed by an off-tracking truck. Only one guess is needed to identify which industry has thus far defeated the legislation.

DAN SILVER

Los Angeles

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* Rolling thunder on the highways is preceded by the illegal lightning speeds of trucks. Posted speed limits for automobiles range up to 70 mph. There is no speed range over 55 mph for trucks; it’s the maximum. The truck is illegally invading the automobile’s upper speed envelope, unable to cope with emergency handling. On the highways we have trucks passing cars regardless of what the maximum automobile speed is.

Are there that many delinquent truck drivers? Do schedules have anything to do with it? Is it law enforcement? “Speed kills” is not a worn-out cliche; physics won’t let it be.

KEN JOHNSON

Pinon Hills

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* Thanks for your extended coverage of the crash involving the van carrying farm workers and a big rig (Aug. 10). Every year, approximately 5,000 people die in crashes involving large trucks. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates half of all fatal car-truck crashes involve an under-ride. All trucks since 1953 have been required to have rear under-ride guards, yet there is no requirement for side under-ride guards. Such guards would have prevented the van from sliding underneath the trailer.

Truck regulations have been weak. Only since December 1993 have newly manufactured trailers been equipped with reflective materials that improve their visibility. The Federal Highway Administration will require all existing trailers to have reflectors, but only those used in interstate commerce and not until June 1, 2001. The crash became newsworthy only because it killed so many. But the real danger was in an unlit, double trailer U-turning on a dark farm road. It would have been invisible to any driver. Real regulation of trucks is required to prevent this tragedy.

PETER JACOBSEN

Sacramento