LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

HEAVY VEHICLES

I AM writing to express my disgust at the driving habits of some heavy vehicle drivers going down and in some cases going up the range.

I have had many years of experience driving heavy vehicles and we were always taught to give way to cars if possible.

There are many drivers who think they can flick the indicator on and just pull over not waiting for the minimum three flashes to warn drivers behind them of their intentions.

I would like to see the law changed to prevent heavy vehicles using the second lane on the down section of the range as is the case in NSW going down Mount Ousley.

It only adds about three minutes extra to the journey going down in low gear as trying to go down in a higher gear and standing on the brakes most of the way down.

It would also be much safer as many of the heavy vehicles using this road have two trailers and would be grossing about 80 or more tonnes.

I wish to add there are a lot of drivers who obey the rules and this letter is in no way impeding on their professional experience.

BOB BROWN, Cotswold Hills

RAIL LINE

WE ARE told that the passenger rail connection to Brisbane will be a benefit to small business.

But we are not told why? Nor are we told the frequency of the proposed service.

If, for example, it is to be a half hourly service or even an hourly service 24 hours a day that takes 45 minutes each way then we could also see the retail spend disappear back down to Brisbane.

Why shop in Toowoomba if you can travel to Brisbane in 45 minutes?

Often we are told that the Southern Highlands in NSW has been connected by rail.

Yes, Bowral, Moss Vale are connected by electric city rail with a service every hour. But the trip takes two hours 20 minutes each way.

If the Southern Highlands service cannot warrant a very fast train service link to Sydney then can Mr McVeigh and Mayor Antonio explain what this pipe dream of theirs is all about? This is $15 million being spent irresponsibly.

Perhaps they could also tell us when the study will be done and released for public reading?

Or is that all too hard to do as well? JOHN FRIEND, Toowoomba

GREAT SERVICE

LAST Thursday, May 10, my husband had a fall outside the Post Office at Wilsonton. I would like to thank all the people who came to his aid and escorted him to the doctors.

I would also like to thank the nurses at the Wilsonton Medical Centre and the care and attention he received at the Toowoomba Hospital was exceptional.

We are very fortunate to have such good medical services here in Toowoomba.

JOY MORT, Cranley