Truck accident death rate declines
As heartening as it was to see a robust discussion of transportation issues in the newspaper, we were discouraged that several misleading statements entered the dialogue. An opposing view (“A small price to pay for truck safety,” Opinion, June 30) stated more than 4,200 people are killed in truck-involved crashes. This is simply isn’t true. Over the past decade, deaths related to large truck crashes have fallen more than 20 percent, and they have been below 4,000 annually for five years running.
The columnist also insinuated that each of these tragedies is the fault of a commercial driver. However, numerous analyses of fatal car-truck crashes have shown that up to 75 percent are the result of actions by the car driver. The American Trucking Associations supports more comprehensive enforcement of traffic safety laws to improve the behavior of all drivers, and we work to educate motorists on how they can do their part to prevent large truck crashes.
SEAN MCNALLY, VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS
Soda warnings shouldn’t mislead
A recent Opinion piece (“Take a stand against sugary drinks,” June 26) suggests putting warning labels on beverages sweetened with sugar will lessen conditions such as diabetes and obesity. But a warning label that is not accurate and contradicts the facts will not make anyone healthier. Sugar consumed from sugar-sweetened beverages has dropped by 39 percent over a 10-year period when diabetes rates approximately doubled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Calories from soft drinks in the American diet are down 23 percent since 1998, while obesity rates have gone up.
How is it that these health conditions are the result of soft-drink consumption, when the rate of both conditions has gone up while soda consumption has been going down? Nutritional science tells us no single food, beverage or ingredient is a unique contributor to illness. Beverages sweetened with sugar can certainly be part of a balanced diet. But like most anything, they contain calories, so fact-based information is needed to maintain a balanced lifestyle, not warnings that mislead.
KEVIN PERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEORGIA BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION
Some are selective when reading Bible
I have one question for those who would base their continued opposition to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. Why do you pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe in? If you were truly following the inerrant word of God, you would be sacrificing goats, stoning adulterers, not eating shellfish and pork and condoning slavery, among many other things. I have an idea it’s because those barbecue sandwiches and fried shrimp are awfully tasty.
THOMAS FITCH, ATLANTA
