Police Need To Stop The Road Cowboys - And Response (4)

  • Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Where is our highway patrol?  If they were known to regularly patrol our interstate highways through our city I don't think it would take long before the "truckers" were aware of it.  There are places in our country where this is the case.  

When I have traveled Interstates 24 and 75 I may see the occasional car pulled over but rarely if ever is it an 18-wheeler.  This last wreck may not have been prevented but maybe enough speed to kill six people would not have been reached. 

Our city police department could also join in the patrols.  I am not sure where our THP spend there time but I rarely see their presence around town. 

Isn't it time to "take our city back" from the road cowboys who have no thought of safety.  I am not talking about the majority of safe driving good truckers.  I respect them and the job they do.  But it seems to be there are more of the other kind all the time. 

Nancy Allshouse
Chattanooga  

* * *  

Nancy Allshouse brings significant insight into the sporadic speed enforcement of commercial traffic traveling warp speed through Hamilton County, but really only scratches the surface. There are locations in Hamilton County that is guaranteed to see almost all 18-wheelers far exceed posted maximum speed limits. 

It would take but five minutes to clock a dozen truck(ers) ramping up their speed to make better time going up the White Oak Mountain ridge cut on I-75 leaving Hamilton and entering Bradley County. Qualifying trials begin a quarter-mile past the Ooltewah exit. Trucks actively gain speed, well-over the posted maximum 60 mph in order to save a few seconds climbing “the wall” into Cleveland. 

It is truly frightening to be in a car in either lane after the Ooltewah exit as truckers barrel their way past you, tailgating, honking their air horns and recklessly hopping from lane to lane to maintain their excessive speed or accelerate even further. 

The I-24 ridge cut is only marginally better due to the already excessive traffic along this stretch of I-24. 

Do truckers take the speed reduction to 60 mph seriously just past I-59 entering Hamilton County? Not on your (our) lives. Adding to the situation is the rationale behind the reduced speed limits. Ron Littlefield, in his inestimable wisdom made a backroom deal with the EPA to maintain Chattanooga’s air quality ranking and did this, partially, by reducing passenger car speed limits to 65 mph in non-metro areas and 60 mph for trucks. While I take issue with the means by which it occurred, air quality has gotten better. Truckers exceeding the speed limits only diminish or defeat the purpose of lowered limits. 

I put it to you, THP, HCSD, CPD.: camp-out at the head of White Oak Mountain, the ridge cuts, I-75 South before Exit 1. Word will get out and all ground transportation will slow down. You will be doing an effective service for all motorists. 

Dave Fihn 

* * * 

First of all, the county-wide speed limit for big trucks is 55 mph, not 60 mph, and has been so for more than ten years:  http://www.chattanoogan.com/2005/2/8/62265/Truck-Speed-Lowered-To-55-MPH-In.aspx 

Among other things, that article reports, "The truck speed for commercial trucks is being lowered to 55 mph in Hamilton County, three state commissioners said at a press conference at the Development Resource Center on Tuesday afternoon. 

"At the same time, the maximum speed for autos on the freeways here will be lowered to 65 mph from the present 70 mph maximum. 

"Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely said the reason for also reducing the car speed is "to lessen the difference between the rates at which the two types of vehicles will be traveling." 

"Officials said the move is aimed at lowering air pollution from trucks in Hamilton County. 

"But Mayor Bob Corker said he and County Mayor Claude Ramsey often receive complaints about trucks driving fast on the freeways. He said the change 'will make for a more pleasant drive on our freeways.'"  

Interestingly, TheTruckersReport.com soon reported, "Naturally, there are some upset drivers out there, calling for everything from convoys of protest, to blockades of the interstates, and of course, a renewal of the ever talked about strikes of the state's truckstops as a form of protest. 

"All of this has been in the works for more than a year. Hamilton County, where Chattanooga is located, was the first metropolitan area to begin this action to slow vehicles in the area. 57 miles of roadway was included in the targeted area, lowering the speed limit for trucks to 55 mph, and 65 mph for all other vehicles on the affected roads. The Chattanooga/Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau was the agency that instituted the changes as a means to reduce pollution in the Chattanooga area."   [And, as a side note, the agency that brought us the annual $10 vehicle emissions testing scam.]

Now, after a decade of reduced speed limits and air pollution, after 10 years of increased driving safety and pleasure, Mr. Nicely might be surprised to learn that cars doing a legitimate 65 mph on the Interstates in Hamilton County are actually at a disadvantage, going much slower than the majority of big trucks.  I have tried a couple of times to get out of a trucker's way, but even 70+ mph simply isn't enough, so I gave up the race. 

Mr. Corker might be surprised that his prediction of more pleasant drives has also failed to come true.  Seeing an 18-wheeler filling the rear view mirror is a too-common sight, while seeing an 18-wheeler going 55 mph anywhere in the county is a cause for surprise, sometimes even alarm--such a thing is just that rare.  Usually I wonder, What's wrong up ahead?  Why on Earth is that trucker going the speed limit?  

It's an old joke, and it's hardly funny right now, but after rear-ending an automobile, one trucker told the judge, "I hit him because he was driving too close in front of me!" 

I don't speed, because I was born with a target on my back; if I do something wrong, it is always immediately noticed and brought to my attention.  I seldom enjoy talking with policemen, however nice and polite they may be. 

But I really hate feeling that speeding truckers see me as a target, an offense to them, a nuisance, when I can't legally outrun them.  And in the right hand lane, I can't even get out of their way. 

Please, let's see some patrol cars pulling over these scofflaws and getting their attention.  Surely safe highways in Hamilton County are even more important than clean air.  And now is as good a time as any to make that happen. 

Larry Cloud 

* * * 

I’m sure most motorists have noticed that during the hours of 3-6 p.m. daily it now takes upwards of an hour to traverse the metro Chattanooga area on I-24, should it rain, well engage your parking brake, it’s going to take much longer.  Acquaintances that would know through sources with the THP tell me that studies show that there is an insufficient consistently high traffic level to warrant even considering lane expansion on the I-24 section from I-59 East.  I submit that some of this problem would be alleviated if THP\CHP\Hamilton and Marion County Sheriff’s Departments would actually enforce the speed limits. 

Think of the ticket windfall in revenues. 

I would also suggest the trucks exceeding two axles be required to remain in the right lane(s).  There’s one sign westbound on I-24, a half mile before the Georgia line, suggesting slower traffic stay right.  The issue of the trucks slowing the left lane backs traffic up back to the ridge cut west bound during the afternoon hours.  

And people really, unlike the majority of poorly designed on ramps, the west\southbound 27 to I-24 ramp leaves almost 200 yard to merge.  It’s not necessary to stop traffic right at the top of ramp to merge there.  

If the speed limits would be enforced and the majority of the conscientious safety minded truckers would be informed through signage that there are significant uphill grades ahead, some of the congestion from the White Oak Mountain area to the Nickajack Reservoir might be eliminated. 

Robert Grier 

* * *

I agree whole-heartedly with the posts on Chattanoogan.com regarding the illegal behavior of truck drivers ramping up their speed well above the limit as they approach steep climbs.

I would add the split where Highway 153 and I-75 divide before Hamilton Place Mall. Trucks coming from I-24 and I-75 South will drastically accelerate above the limit to make that climb onto Highway 153.

As you approach that merger, be pro-active and don't get in their way or be going the speed limit. Glance in your mirror to see if one is racing up on you or you most likely will be hit from the rear and never know what happened until it's too late.

Ralph Miller

Latest Headlines
Opinion
Democratic View On Top State Senate Issues - March 18, 2024
  • 3/18/2024

Campbell bill seeks to save lives by studying suicide trends in Tennessee 3 p.m. Senate Regular Calendar — SB 1787 , by Sen. Heidi Campbell, would require state health officials to produce ... more

The Odor Of Mendacity - And Response (2)
  • 3/16/2024

The Fulton County judge, Scott McAfee, overseeing the Fani Willis prosecution of Donald Trump and eighteen other defendants has spoken. In response to a motion by defendants to remove Willis ... more

Capitol Report From State Rep. Greg Vital For March 15
  • 3/15/2024

General Assembly confirms new Tennessee State Supreme Justice Members of the General Assembly confirmed the appointment of Mary L. Wagner to the Tennessee Supreme Court in a joint session ... more