Something needs to be done about semi-trucks passing through our fair county. With all of the growth, it appears truck drivers have no concern for others around them. They only have a concern for getting to their destination as quickly as possible.

I had quite the scare the other day while traveling in Maryville. I and a passenger were sitting in a turn lane on 129 waiting to go left on Lamar Alexander Pkwy. towards downtown.

This is a good sized intersection with four lanes in all four directions and a traffic signal. We were quietly waiting for our turn, when the main light for people to go straight was turning yellow, then red.

As the light turned yellow we heard a very loud truck horn blasting frantically. The truck was hauling cut trees and did appear to be carrying a full load. The truck driver was attempting to warn everyone at the intersection that he was coming through no matter the color of the traffic light. Lucky for us and everyone else at the intersection, not one driver started to move upon receiving the green light. The truck came barreling through and anyone accidentally getting in his way would have been toast.

It's time to slow these big trucks down through our fair county before someone gets hurt.

Recently I was driving down Hunt Road (East bound) and was closing in on the Hunt Road and Alcoa Hwy access ramps. I was definitely going the speed limit, which is 40 mph. There was a Blount County sheriff's deputy in the West bound side getting ready to turn left onto the Alcoa Hwy access ramp to go South bound. There was also a large black pickup truck that had exited Alcoa Hwy and was waiting to turn left (West bound) on Hunt Road. As I got much closer to the intersection, the black pickup decided to go ahead and pull out right in front of me, forcing me to put on my brakes. Luckily I was going the speed limit, thus no need to do any heavy duty swerving to avoid hitting the truck. I thought for sure the deputy sheriff would go after the offender for pulling out in front of me, but alas, it did not happen. Even if the driver of the large pickup truck did not deserve a ticket, the driver did deserve a lecture from authority. I was surprised and disappointed.

Message to the Sheriff's department, it would be nice if you would give at least a warning of possible dangers to bad driving habits when they occur right in front of you.

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