March 28, 2024
Letter

A ticking time bomb

Friday’s BDN front page photo and article of the overturned truck on Summer Street bring home once again the real dangers of having these heavily loaded vehicles use our local streets and roads instead of the interstate where they rightfully belong.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt in this accident, but the writing is clearly on the wall for future accidents where the outcomes will be tragic. Special recognition to Bangor Public Works, Fire and Police for their fine job of cleaning up a situation not of their making.

These misguided federal transportation regulations directly harm our northern Maine economy, ruin our local and secondary roads and put our populace in harm’s way. Here on Hammond Street, there are two elementary school crosswalks, one of which is in front of our home. The school crossing guard, armed only with a small hand paddle that says “STOP,” is charged with bringing to a complete halt heavily loaded pulp and other large 18-wheel trucks.

These are vehicles that ply this road 24 hours a day in both directions, singly or in convoys of up to six or more. During school hours, should the brakes on these behemoths fail or there is driver inattention, we will lose children. This situation is a ticking time bomb.

I have spoken to the Maine congressional delegation directly about this deplorable issue over the past several years and encourage other Maine citizens to do the same. It is my impression that our elected federal officials have been doing their best, but the solution lies in Washington.

The answer is complex and far too slow a process. Meanwhile, we are all at risk.

Gerry Palmer

Bangor


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