Re: “Crashes rise along with speed limit on I-295 north of Portland” (Dec. 1):
Why is everyone in the transportation sector of government all confused about the “killing spree” taking place on major Maine highways?
It’s pretty simple: Speed limits have been increased as those in neighboring states have increased. Look what happened in Texas several years ago, when a major highway went to 80 mph. Other states followed, and the “death and crash” experience became commonplace.
What goes with speed is the chance of losing control. And, when traffic is riding the fender of the car in front at 80 mph, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the results. What happened to the accepted tailgating distance that I was taught? It’s gone – particularly among younger drivers.
Government will probably vote to write a major paper, as always, when some simple steps should begin to act on the problem. So, try these:
• More unmarked police cars for a reasonable length of time.
• Major penalties – say, $500 for speeding and something similar for tailgating.
• Loss of driving privileges for multiple offenses.
• Aggressive communication about a crackdown for a lengthy time.
Frank Parker
Yarmouth
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