Layoffs Mean Danger on Roads

Mar 1, 2010

“Roads are snow-covered and slippery.” This forecast means danger for everyone who must go out and use the roads.

Layoffs of road crews make the dangers far worse.

Just a few inches of snow on February 26 made the Detroit area roads slow to a crawl. Drivers had to cope with long stretches of unsalted, unplowed roads. Spinouts and accidents were everywhere as traffic crept along at 5 or 10 mph.

Budget cuts and layoffs meant that salt trucks lacked drivers. Even in suburban Oakland County, home to many layers of corporate management, the road commission had only 44 drivers available for the second salting shift instead of last year’s 84.

Of course, less wealthy counties were in even worse shape.

Let’s be honest. The upper crust of wealthy people have taken plenty of extra money from public coffers – money that could be used to meet this public need. They are simply not about to let the public need dent their private capital gains.