Here’s how to prevent deaths like those of Officer Mia Goodwin and my dad

Preventable deaths

The writer is a Truck Safety Coalition volunteer.

Charlotte police Officer Mia Goodwin lost her life in a preventable truck crash, just as my father, Bill Badger, did exactly 17 years prior.

The events in this tragedy are nearly identical to my father’s death. Due to the time of the wreck, fatigue was likely a factor. The National Transportation Safety Board cites driver fatigue as a “major contributor” in truck crashes, which cause nearly 5,000 fatalities and 159,000 severe injuries each year.

Commonsense safety measures will make a difference. Officials should require speed limiters, Automatic Emergency Braking on all trucks, and maintain hours of service and Electronic Logging Device requirements for truck drivers.

These proven solutions will help make sure everyone gets home safe.

Paul Badger, Cornelius

Rep. Dan Bishop

Regarding “Dan Bishop is (partially) right: NC courts shouldn’t operate in secrecy,” (Dec. 29 Observer Editorial):

Congratulations to Congressman Dan Bishop for standing up for transparency in the North Carolina courts. It would be good to see him stand up for the same transparency in the investigation of the attempted violent overthrow of our government.

As a lawyer, he knows that no concept of legal privilege protects against disclosure of evidence of planning and execution of treason. The crime fraud exception lifts the veil of privilege.

Bishop’s phrase: “breathtaking hypocrisy” is a good description of the Republican position on illegally covering up what happened on Jan. 6, 2021.

Ed Hinson, Charlotte

I applaud Bishop

It was refreshing to see an editorial that showed (mostly) support for Dan Bishop. He deserves more credit than the parenthetical “partially,” but we’ll take what we can get.

Bishop is genuine and doesn’t grandstand, so I think the editorial could have done without the verbiage that this was some sort of publicity stunt. But, we’ll take what we can get at this point.

Bishop exposes any element of government that his constituents need more transparency on, and I’m appreciative for him.

Trigg Cherry, Charlotte

COVID testing

Um, maybe some should not cry about the lack of COVID tests... Some people ignored all the CDC and government pleas for masking, social distancing, vaccinations and boosters, and now they’re angry at the government because they can’t get tested. Why bless their hearts — and their sense of self-entitled freedom-risking public health.

Chip Potts, Mooresville

Drug prices

The writer is AARP Senior Vice President of Campaigns.

Regarding “AARP has a conflict of interest over drug pricing legislation,” (Jan. 2 Opinion):

If anyone has a conflict, it is astroturf groups like Patients Rising, claiming to speak for patients but cozying up to Big Pharma.

For decades, millions of seniors have been forced to pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Congress moved one step closer to solving this issue when the House passed the Build Back Better Act, which would finally allow Medicare to negotiate the prices it pays for some prescription drugs.

In every other market, buyers and sellers negotiate and bigger buyers use their buying power to get what amounts to a bulk discount. But Big Pharma has had its handcuffs on Medicare for well over a decade and that must change.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says reform would result in one less new drug out of hundreds over the next decade. Meanwhile, millions of seniors would have more affordable access. Medicines only work if patients can afford them.

John Hishta

The dog obit

When I came across the Jan. 5 obituary for Simba Williams it took me a while to realize that Simba was a dog. In all of my 78 years I had never seen an obituary for a dog, but it makes perfect sense because a pet is a cherished family member.

I want to thank the Williams family of Lake Wylie for sharing this loving tribute to their beloved Simba. I urge them to please accept my deepest sympathies and know that I and hundreds of other readers are grieving with you.

Bill Hamelau, Charlotte