I wish to thank Linda Zupancic (“Easy way to keep roads clean,” Our Readers’ Views, Feb. 23) for pointing out the problem with unsecured loads littering our roads. While candy wrappers and drink containers are annoying, cargo from uncovered loads can be deadly. I agree with her that the laws regarding unsecured loads should be strictly enforced with higher penalties.
Last year, my husband and I were traveling on Interstate 5 from Vancouver to visit family in Snohomish. In the area around the Castle Rock exit, I-5 traffic was light, with a pickup pulling a small trailer, ahead of us by a few hundred feet. Both vehicles were in the right lane. Much to our horror, a half sheet of plywood took flight from the pickup’s trailer bed, sailing high into the air. As it descended, its flight path continued toward the windshield of our car. My husband swerved quickly onto the shoulder. The plywood landed next to the left side of our car.
Our last two trips to Snohomish were on Amtrak, Vancouver to Everett. I appreciated the great race to Seattle that Columbian staffers and their boss reported (“Plane, train or automobiles?”, The Columbian, Feb. 24). We agree with Taylor Balkom; there is a luxury in taking the train.
