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I have been an over-the-road driver since 1982. In this time I have witnessed the growing lack of available, safe parking. In one incident that comes to mind, I was driving I-40 from Little Rock to Memphis and I maxed out my hours. Not being familiar with this part of the country, I figured no problem finding a parking spot. This was about 8 p.m.

Every rest area and truck stop was completely filled up, and the later it got, the more impossible it was to find a spot. I ended up south of Memphis before I found a place to park behind a 24-hour mini-mart. I was desperate and exhausted.

By the way, I’m a single, woman driver. Safety is very important to me. I don’t park in the back of unlighted truck stops (although I would have this night). Safety needs to be paramount. Nothing is more frightening than walking through a bunch of running trucks, knowing that if something happens, no one would ever hear me hollering for help.

Don’t ask Congress, the DOT or some other agency; ask truck drivers where they have the parking problems. Listen to the drivers. We are the ones trying to look for a parking space at night.

Truckers need truck-only rest areas that are well-lighted, have restroom facilities and are reasonably safe for all drivers. Until this is accomplished, drivers will be sleeping on the side of road, under overpasses and every other place that is dangerous to them and other motorists. I know that making these parking areas will be expensive; progress usually is.

But it is needed.

Kaelynne Aldrich

I>Texas

This letter appeared in the July 29 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.