I appreciate your Monday editorial concerning the difficulty with visibility for truck drivers. However, I believe many of the big rig drivers are counting on the auto driver to maintain the safety standards. For example, when did truckers take over the middle lane? They used to travel in the right lane. Now, autos must pass them by going left or right. Does a trucker realize that if there is no one in front of them, perhaps they should see the crowd of autos behind them? For example, cars had merged into the mandatory left lane near the Everett Mall interchange, but two double rigs whipped by on the right. These two rigs had to merge, thus cars had to stop to let the two rigs (four sections) in.
Another example: a long line had to merge right near Smokey Point. As I slowly rolled along in this right hand lane, I could see a double rig coming up the middle lane, speeding past the merged line, and going to the front of the right lane, putting about 10 inches between the rig and my car as it roared by.
You mention leaving space in front of the rig. How about the rig that sat on my rear fender while I was in the far left lane. I had to move to the right to get away from him. There are countless stories from auto drivers. This issue is not about who pays for the roadways, it is about safety. I am tired of “taking care of” the trucker when I fear his rig. If the right side is the sui-side, then it seems reasonable, seems intelligent, and seems safer, if the truckers drove in the far right lane.
Lynn Pokela
Camano Island
* smoking ban
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