Big-Rig Truck Accidents

* A tragic accident in Ontario involving a semitrailer truck has cost the lives of two parents, orphaning five young children (May 9). These highway giants, euphemistically called “big rigs” by The Times and traffic reporters, are involved in many freeway accidents causing serious injuries and tying up traffic for many miles and hours. These huge vehicles, often towing two trailers, as was the case in Ontario, frequently jackknife, tip over in high winds or on tight curves or careen out of control on downgrades. Their involvement in accidents seems very high in proportion to other types of vehicles on the freeways.

It’s time for the appropriate state agencies and the Legislature to take a close look at this serious problem. Are there basic design flaws that need to be addressed? Are many of the vehicles poorly maintained? Are inadequately trained, overtired or negligent drivers straining to make a schedule to blame?

Perhaps the basic philosophy concerning the movement of goods needs to be examined. Freight trains must be more efficient, less polluting and safer than moving long-distance freight on the interstates one “box car” at a time.

MICHAEL LEVITON

Encino

* I am dismayed over the death of the mother and father of young children--struck down by a cascading truck. Where is our Highway Patrol? I drive with increasing fear to Riverside and San Clemente from Huntington Beach, as the big rigs honk and blink their lights for me to get out of the way, when I am going the legal limit of 65 miles per hour.

I never see the big rigs getting a ticket. Only the driver of the smoking Datsun or Honda gets one, while on the way to work, hoping not to be the next in line as the target of the vibrating monsters that have taken over the roads.

CHARLES “REX” MYLES

Huntington Beach