A fourth safety concern. This involves rogue truck drivers

A fourth safety concern. This involves rogue truck drivers who might use our roads to avoid weigh scales. A large tractor-trailer with bad brakes is a juggernaut out of control. Many such truck drivers are trying to make unreasonable deadlines by speeding. Many drive too many hours, causing fatigue-related accidents. Some are on drugs. In crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, studies show 98 percent of the fatalities are the occupants of cars, vans, pickup trucks, or sport utility vehicles.

A fifth safety concern. The steel bridge in Sperryville at the junction of US 211 and Route 522 was built in" 1929. Its decking needs replacement. The bridge was not designed to take the constant pounding from modern-day tractor-trailer trucks.

Other safety concerns. Trucks carrying hazardous materials might take to our roads. Gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil shipments comprise more than 95 percent of all hazardous materials trips in the U.S. This county may not be able to deal with a significant increase in such combustible materials in transit.

Then there is the shortage of sleeping space at rest areas along Virginia's truck routes. Truckers may start parking their rigs along certain county roads for catnaps. Shredded tires may start appearing along our highways. Maybe intersections will be used for trailer drop-offs, blocking sight lines. The roadbeds of the county's roads may not be able to withstand heavy truck traffic, causing dangerous breaks.

Now for the "money out of your pocket" concerns. This is a rural scenic county, with Route 522 and Route 231 both being scenic byways. Tourism is a key source of our revenue. Why should people visit this county when they cannot drive leisurely without having an 18-wheeler, trying to make a deadline, on their tail?