Comments on: Task force members think gas tax increase is the way to go for road funding http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/task-force-members-think-gas-tax-increase-is-the-way-to-go-for-road-funding/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:59:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Petunia http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/task-force-members-think-gas-tax-increase-is-the-way-to-go-for-road-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-9355 Petunia Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:45:22 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=9069#comment-9355 This is just one of many perks that Idaho lawmakers and the head of the Idaho State police have given to truckers. A few years ago the truckers were trying to get authority to run THREE trailers per rig (up from two). This was during a hub-ub over the increased number of wrecks and injuries to automobile drivers caused by careless truckers. Over significant opposition and studies showing increased dangers, the politicians gave the truckers their three rig permission, supposedly in exchange for limiting the maximum speed limit to 65mph for truckers...a very reasonable law that had been in effect in some other states for a long time. Unfortunately the state police DO NOT enforce it! Knowing what I do about the feelings of the Idaho State Police head, (he was against a differential speed limit from the outset) I believe he has given orders to not enforce it, or at least to not enforce it as stringently, compared to automobile speeders. This is totally ridiculous as trucks cause disproportionate damage both in traffic accidents and to the wear and tear on the roads. It makes one wonder if people in positions of power aren't getting payed off or at least getting perks by trucking companies and unions. The increased costs should be paid by truckers and police should enforce their 65mph speed limit! This is just one of many perks that Idaho lawmakers and the head of the Idaho State police have given to truckers. A few years ago the truckers were trying to get authority to run THREE trailers per rig (up from two). This was during a hub-ub over the increased number of wrecks and injuries to automobile drivers caused by careless truckers. Over significant opposition and studies showing increased dangers, the politicians gave the truckers their three rig permission, supposedly in exchange for limiting the maximum speed limit to 65mph for truckers…a very reasonable law that had been in effect in some other states for a long time. Unfortunately the state police DO NOT enforce it!
Knowing what I do about the feelings of the Idaho State Police head, (he was against a differential speed limit from the outset) I believe he has given orders to not enforce it, or at least to not enforce it as stringently, compared to automobile speeders. This is totally ridiculous as trucks cause disproportionate damage both in traffic accidents and to the wear and tear on the roads. It makes one wonder if people in positions of power aren’t getting payed off or at least getting perks by trucking companies and unions.
The increased costs should be paid by truckers and police should enforce their 65mph speed limit!

]]> By: fortboise http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/task-force-members-think-gas-tax-increase-is-the-way-to-go-for-road-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-9352 fortboise Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:22:04 +0000 http://www.idahoreporter.com/?p=9069#comment-9352 I'd like to see some of the key points of the Highway Cost Allocation Study spelled out in more detail. Comparing things only with percentages does not present the whole picture. Passenger car owners paying 147% of their share, pickups (and SUVs? where's the dividing line) paying 118%, and trucks paying 67% is obviously bad allocation, but without knowing the percents <i>of what</i>, it's hard to see how bad the allocation is. Is the Battelle Group report available in some form, somewhere? I found a slide deck from February, about their plans for the HCAS, but no data yet. I’d like to see some of the key points of the Highway Cost Allocation Study spelled out in more detail. Comparing things only with percentages does not present the whole picture.

Passenger car owners paying 147% of their share, pickups (and SUVs? where’s the dividing line) paying 118%, and trucks paying 67% is obviously bad allocation, but without knowing the percents of what, it’s hard to see how bad the allocation is.

Is the Battelle Group report available in some form, somewhere? I found a slide deck from February, about their plans for the HCAS, but no data yet.

]]>