In her recent letter to the editor, D.C. lobbyist Joan Claybrook claims to speak for Maine people, but it appears that she didn’t actually consult with any before making her comments.

If she had, she would have known that Sen. Susan Collins’ work to pass federal truck weight legislation in 2011 was strongly supported by those who have both knowledge and experience regarding the dangers of large trucks using city streets and rural roads in Maine.

Although Ms. Claybrook’s attack is poorly supported by fact, and weak in evidence-based data, I felt compelled to respond to her claims because she chose to discount the thoughts and opinions of Maine people about Maine’s interests. The widely supported, proven safety reform championed by Sen. Collins has had huge benefits for our state.

The law, which was initially a pilot project that allowed heavy trucks to use Maine’s federal interstates, rather than being forced onto our downtown and residential streets and rural roads, was prudent and safety conscious.

Because of the pilot project and the now-permanent law, heavy trucks can now avoid 300 intersections, 86 crosswalks, 30 traffic lights, nine school crossings and four railroad crossings as they travel from Augusta to Houlton.

Contrary to Claybrook’s insinuation that Maine is less safe than before the passage of this legislation, the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, the Maine State Police, the Maine State Troopers Association, the Maine Department of Public Safety, the Maine Motor Transport Association, the Maine Parent Teacher Association and Maine’s superintendents of schools all believed it to be in the best interest of Maine people, all supported this safety reform, and all applauded Sen. Collins’ success in changing the law.

Ronald K. Gastia

retired Bangor chief of police

Bangor