Letters

Featured Letter: Don’t demonize trucks driving across North Fork

To the editor:

I am writing regarding amending Town Code chapter 101, “Vehicles and Traffic.”

Drivers of multi-axled vehicles share roadways with much lesser trained, much lesser fined and regulated, and much lesser taxed passenger vehicle operators, whether traveling highways or area roads. Trucks are rightly, rigorously, and routinely monitored and the non-compliant quickly rendered out of service, whereas careless passenger vehicle operators routinely menace area roads. The obnoxious and reckless passenger vehicle operation that comes with residential development clogs roadways that have historically been dedicated for commercial transport and is much more dangerous than well-maintained, properly operated trucks.

Demonized as despoilers of roads, trucks in fact provide the revenue that maintains them. If the funds being provided to municipalities by the freight hauling industry are being improperly administered or perhaps even misappropriated, then by all means, investigate.

Regarding weight limits on Twomey Avenue and elsewhere, supply a verifiable traffic study and viable alternative truck route first. Other than evident hostility to tankers, supporters of this weight limit haven’t presented valid justification for obstructing other freight-movers in one of the most challenging and expensive regions of the northeast to do so, let alone the nation.

Freight hauling is crucial to all of our way of life. Certain local roads were never intended for residential traffic. These roads originated as thoroughfares for vehicles in an agricultural industry pre-existing those proclaiming their righteous desire to preserve their version of North Fork “charm.”

Some neighborly advice to passenger vehicle operators: wherever you approach big trucks, DON’T occupy blind spots. Be cautious and aware approaching an intersection, and SLOW DOWN, stopping well before stop lines, signs, and lights, for that truck may indeed be turning widely, and unable to avoid passage into an oncoming lane. The operation of your vehicle is a privilege, not a right. More spirit of cooperation and not confrontation serves all as our country roads become more congested, if less charming, as a consequence of poor planning and development.

Dawn Zebroski, Calverton