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By Bob Weaver
West Virginia has sacrificed 100,000 lives to coal mining through accidents and black lung disease, it doesn't need to
sacrifice more lives on the state's highways, United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts said. Roberts spoke to a group of
more than 300 in Charleston, arguing against a proposal that would raise weight limits for coal trucks.
UM District 17 President Joe Carter said newer coal trucks are too long, too wide and too heavy to navigate Southern
West Virginia's narrow, twisting highways. Families of victims killed by the trucks followed the giant haulers for several days
in southern West Virginia, video taping their actions. The tapes show the trucks, more often than not, are left of center.
"Coalfield residents shouldn't be expected to risk their lives just to go to the grocery store for milk and bread," said
Carter.
The proposed weight limits to 126,000 pounds exceeds the federal limit on inter-state highways of 80,000 pounds. The
increase is based on "saving jobs," but coal jobs have been evaporating by the tens of thousands in the state for years, mostly
because of mechanization and mountain top removal, which requires very few workers. Currently, the coal market is poor,
which is causing a decrease in production.
West Virginia still is a major producer of coal, with few workers.
The penny a ton tax in the current coal truck bill will pay only a tiny fraction of the $6 billion cost to upgrade state
highways for the giant trucks. Taxpayers will pay the bill.
This bill, according to opponents, legalizes unsafe and dangerous trucks on narrow two-lane roads and rural bridges,
continuing a serious safety problem for travelers.
The legislature is expected to pass the bill.
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