Results of a recent poll conducted by Lake Research Partners reveal that 80 percent of Americans oppose increasing a truck driver's workweek from 70 to 82 hours and that 80 percent affirm they would feel less safe if Congress changed the law to do so. The results are broad, spanning all demographic, geographic and political groups.

Clearly, the truck crash this June that injured comedian Tracy Morgan, and the dangers of fatigued driving, resonate. Each year, on average, 4,000 people are killed and 100,000 more are hurt in large truck crashes. Truck driver fatigue has been recognized as a major safety concern and a contributing factor to fatal truck crashes for more than 70 years.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has sponsored an amendment to strike dangerous language permitting even longer workweeks for truck drivers and ensure that critical safety rules established to address the deadly problem of truck driver fatigue remain in place.

Our members of Congress should note the poll results and heed the wishes of their constituents by supporting the Booker amendment and rejecting any legislation permitting longer workweeks offered in the House. We all have too much to lose.

Nancy Meuleners, Bloomington

The writer, a truck crash survivor, is Minnesota volunteer coordinator for the Truck Safety Coalition.

MPLS. SCHOOL BOARD

Gagnon should have received endorsement

I am not shocked to see that the Star Tribune Editorial Board did not endorse Rebecca Gagnon for re-election to the at-large seat on the Minneapolis school board. They prefer candidates who have never spent time in our schools, such as Iris Altamirano ("Reform-minded picks for schools," Oct. 24). If you recall, the board also endorsed Josh Reimnitz in 2012 for the Fourth District seat, and he had been in Minneapolis only a short time. This seems to be a trend.

Gagnon has served our entire district. She never declines an invitation to meet with parents, students or communities, and she has a deep understanding of our district. Watch any school board meeting, and you will witness Rebecca asking thoughtful questions while other board members sit silent.

How will Iris Altamirano be able to make the strong change the Editorial Board suggests? Her inexperience is terrifying.

Committed parents are not easy to find for such a thankless job. I hope you will vote for Rebecca Gagnon — she has the knowledge and has demonstrated her commitment to our district.

Morris Engel, Minneapolis
PLASTIC BAGS NEEDED?

Companies like Target ought to at least ask

After a full day on the University of Minnesota campus, I stopped by the new Target Express in Dinkytown. I bought four small items — and acquired two disposable plastic bags before I could even ask for none. This avoidable pollution and waste of resources has proved to be Target Corp.'s standard operating procedure and needs to change to match the company's sustainable practices.

Several towns across the country have adopted legislation requiring customers to purchase a plastic bag for a nominal fee if they did not bring reusable bags. Locally, students are not likely to carry around a reusable shopping bag — unless, of course, you count the backpacks they carry everyday. A majority of the Dinkytown store's customers are students looking for minimal items that could easily fit in a backpack.

I recommend you search the Internet for "plastic bag statistics." You will be appalled.

If Target simply asks customers if they would like a bag, people will say no. Whether it is from conscience or simple logic, it is dollars and sense. Target could reduce its pollution and costs while appealing to anyone who advocates sustainability.

Kevin O'Brien, Minneapolis
ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING

Special payment card is small inconvenience

In response to the Oct. 23 letter "Why can't we just swipe a credit card to recharge": The writer, who drives an electric car, was disappointed to discover the need for a dedicated, radio-frequency-identification-style credit card to use at the most popular electric car charging stations in Minnesota.

Ordering an RFID card (tap is even better than swipe) couldn't be easier and gets us access to 262 ChargePoint brand Minnesota charging stations. While you wait a few nights for your card to arrive, you can enjoy the convenience of fueling your car while you sleep. Of course, you'll sleep well knowing you aren't contributing to the next petroleum-related disaster. Then you'll drive in vibration-free silence to the no-fee charging station nearest your destination.

When your "charge" card arrives, you'll be happy to find that it doesn't need to take up space in your wallet, since it can stay with the car. You might be surprised to find it's five to 10 times cheaper to use electricity as your fuel instead of gasoline.

Gary Schettl, Jordan

• • •

I'm not sure why the Oct. 23 letter merited such prominent display. I've been thrilled with the service provided by these fairly ubiquitous stations; the ChargePoint touch card works just like the convenient Metro Transit touch cards that you can easily "recharge" online.

The bigger issue with these electric car charging stations is that they are so often monopolized by either one electric car parked way beyond the four-hour charging cycle, or nonelectric cars blocking access. Dedicating two or three parking places for electric cars for each charging station, instead of just one, would be a big improvement.

Jim Dustrude, Mound
RENEWABLE ENERGY

Germany, in fact, does not have regrets

The Oct. 17 letter "New wind, solar jobs are inefficient sleight-of-hand" states: "Germany went down the solar and wind path, and ended up with the highest electric rates in Europe … . The Germans are now backing away from green energy, while we run headlong into it."

The writer would do well to check his facts. In the first quarter of 2014, renewable-energy sources provided 27 percent of Germany's electricity demand, more than double the approximately 13 percent of U.S. electricity supply from renewables. Furthermore, Germany's energy transformation aims to power the country almost entirely on renewable sources by 2050.

In an OilPrice.com article titled "Germans Happily Pay More for Renewable Energy, But Would Others?" author Chris Dalby states that "[a] 2013 survey revealed that 84 percent of Germans would be happy to pay even more if the country could find a way to go 100 percent renewable. So how can this model of high targets, high fees and high public support find traction in other countries? The answer is, with difficulty." Dalby explains that Germany's engagement with renewables came after an extended period of public education, local ownership of wind and solar infrastructure, and investment support.

Stan Sattinger, Minneapolis