Safety group opposes lifting truck restrictions

JUST SAY NO: Coalition asks NC lawmakers to say "no" to longer trailers.

The Associated Press

6/23/2008

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Truck Safety Coalition is asking state lawmakers to put the brakes on a proposal that would allow longer trailers on more North Carolina roadways.

The group's state coordinator, Jen Tierney, said Monday that allowing 53-foot trailers on all primary highway routes will cause accidents. State law restricts those trailers to interstates and designated highways, while 48-foot long trailers are allowed on more roadways.

The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider a plan Wednesday that would open thousands of miles of roads to the longer trailers. The trucking industry supports the plan because it says the 53-foot trailers are the industry standard.

But the safety group argues that long trailers cannot be navigated safely on some routes under the current restrictions.