Readers oppose plan to let trucks, cars go same speed

No way.

That was the overwhelming response from Getting There readers asked last week about an Idaho legislative proposal to raise the speed limit for trucks on the freeway.

The Idaho bill hasn’t had a hearing yet, but it would reduce passenger vehicle speeds to 70 mph and raise semitruck speeds to match.

“Trucks, at 80,000 pounds, are lethal should you be involved in any major accident with them. Higher speeds will only benefit the owners and operators, not those of us who share the road with them,” said Bob Baker.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tim Corder of Mountain Home, owns a trucking company.

“I do like having most of them go slower than the vehicle traffic. That way trucks are not constantly passing vehicles in poor conditions like when water is on the road and when getting passed by a truck means getting blinded by the blast of water coming up from their 18 or more wheels,” said Debbie Domy of Kellogg.

Most other comments were similar.

“I think it’s crazy to have the trucks and cars going the same speed,” said Steve Ellersick of Spokane.

But Richard Oberdorfer of Newport disagreed.

“Trucks should go the same speed as cars to avoid causing bottlenecks,” he said. “What’s the difference between 65 and 70 mph?”

Protect your kids

If parents ever needed a reason to make sure their children’s safety seats are properly installed, this is it: Car wrecks are the top killer of children 4-14 years old.

Five children die on the road each day; 640 more are injured.

This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pushing car and car seat manufacturers to make the seats easier to install.

The attachment points found on many newer vehicles, called lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH), should be easier to find and use.

In the meantime, AAA is urging parents to double-check that seats are properly installed in the back seat and that children are in the appropriate seat for their size and age – infant, child or booster.

Take another look at those manuals.

Left lane law

Getting There reader Richard Palmer would like to see an emphasis patrol along the lines of “Click-it or Ticket,” but instead enforcing laws mandating the left lane of the freeway is for passing only.

The left lane certainly isn’t for slowpokes driving 10 mph under the speed limit, although many seem to ignore that fact.

Call it “Left Lane – Fast Lane,” Palmer says of his emphasis idea, adding that it might help curb road rage.

“Now don’t get me wrong. I’m neither a proponent of road rage or reckless driving,” he explains. “I just want to do the speed limit.”

Coffee cups all over the Inland Northwest are toasting to that.

Signs of the times

Airlines had more late flights and lost more bags in 2006 than in 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Passengers filed fewer airline service complaints with the government, however.

Maybe people have just given up on expecting air travel to be problem free.

Load limits

It’s the time of year when local jurisdictions and highway districts start enforcing load and speed restrictions on some roads.

Kootenai County highway district officials are asking drivers to check with their districts for the latest information on whether they need a special load or frost permit. Here’s who to call:

Eastside Highway District: (208) 765-4714;

Lakes Highway District: (208) 772-7527;

Post Falls Highway District: (208) 765-3717;

Worley Highway District: (208) 664-0483.

Slow going

The Keller Ferry will be out of service Thursday for about 12 hours, starting at midnight and lasting until about noon. One engine is being replaced. The ferry crosses the Columbia River on state Highway 21, connecting Wilbur and Republic.