Trucks are already banned from the Palisades and Taconic State Parkway. Now the DOT is also considering a ban on tractor trailers along Route 17 in Orange and Rockland. According to LoHud, the move may not only be for safety, but financial concerns. Assemblyman James Skoufis asked for the review in July because he suspects large trucks are using 17 to avoid paying the hefty Harriman toll on the Thruway.

Some wonder, why would a tractor trailer take the slower, and less direct route of 17, with a speed limit of 45, when they could fly down the Thruway at 65mph.  Well, on the Thruway a large truck pays a toll of $10.50 cash, $9.98 with an E-ZPass discount or $5.54 if they have a special E-ZPass plan. Skoufis believes that large trucking companies find it desirable to avoid the toll because the money does eventually add up. This puts other drivers at risk, navigating around more and more large trucks on Route 17.

The State Department of Transportation is expected to make their decision in a few weeks.  So what do you think? Should trucks be banned from Route 17?

Source: LoHud

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