LETTER: Most people are naive about how the trucking world works

Editor's note: Mr. Mcçonnery writes in response to the BayToday story New truckers need to face greater restrictions.

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To the editor:

After reading the article about the problems regarding highway safety in the northern part of the province, it is clear that most people are naive in regard to how the trucking world works. I'm native to the north and trucked all over the continent, but mostly in Ontario and Quebec with a lot of northern driving including James Bay and winter roads.

First of all the licensing system needs to be overhauled in the provinces across the country and they should all be compatible. No more allowing people to use translators for writing driving tests.

Driving schools need to be strictly regulated and a minimum amount of driving experience should be required to operate a commercial vehicle on the highways. If you can't read and write French or English, no driver's licence.

If there are only two seats in a vehicle there should be only two people in said vehicle.

Logbook regulations should be revamped to allow drivers more personal time in a day, such as meals and maybe a nap should not count against the hours of service. Drivers are driving hungry and tired with current regulations.

I could go on and on, but much of the damage to the system is not reversible.

FOUR LANE the Trans Canada highway through Ontario.

And please, would those who think photo radar and trains are a solution to the problem go do something they know something about?

Speed limits are too low in this province and that is one reason you see people passing when they shouldn't be. If you can't do 100 km/h on Highway 11, you shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Increase driver education, increase speed limits, increase enforcement in licensing and four-lane the darn highways!

Donald Mcçonnery
Caledon