vision2020
Re: Another Tragedy on Highway 95
Dave, I was interested to find out the thinking behind posting speed limits
on city streets. The city engineer explained that streets are monitored and
the posted limit is supposed to be what 80% of the vehicles traveling that
route hit. Unless there is a strong safety issue that is the method for
city streets.Leadership by consensus. As to reacting to tragedies...there
are lots of issues, lots of details, lots of sadness. Yes,this was tragic.
I don't think the "solution", if there is one for unnecessary suffering and
disaster is or will be simple on a policy scale. But it makes me slow down
on the drive to Lewiston/Boise/CDA. I agree that there is an element of
greed in the speedster. Also thoughtlessness. To that end may we all do our
best. But, I agree, physics has alot to teach us and some of that is
uncertainty.
I think of the Montana policy for crosses by the road. White crosses are
placed on the roadside where ever there is a highway fatality. You'll see
them across the state. It is a personal one here in this state that
families or loved ones maintain. I was struck by the nature of this last
week when I passed a group of crosses with lots of ornamentation, even a
Mylar ballon blowing in the roadside wind. I think I understand the Montana
State policy. You see a group of white crosses and you think about your
speed or safety, or the safety of this stretch of road. It might save some
lives in the state of Montana....and it's a lot cheaper than road
improvements....if you want to be cynical. Of course, I don't know if
anybody has shown the "value" of the policy...i.e. lives saved, morbidity
lessened.
The personally maintained roadside crosses carry more of the personal
memorial,remembrance aspect. I wonder if there is a bit of anger associated
with such public grief. The two are entwined, grief and anger. Still, I
find myself wondering about the ornamented roadside cross. I'm not sure,
but I might slow down even. Dan Schmidt
At 03:44 AM 11/5/99 GMT, you wrote:
>Greg's observation of the carnage on 95 follwed by his comments about a real
>lack of leadership with regard to safety points in the correct direction.
>I believe that travel safety often seems to take a back seat to special
>intrest spending.
>Often a [documented]dangerous section of road will go for years with little
>attempt to achieve any safety. Little things like warning signs or a small
>gravel escapement could make some impact at very little cost.
>Why was the speed limit raised in that area of 95 when state knew it was
>already dangerous?
>I asked the trans dept. that very question after the raised limits were
>posted.........No result.
>Unnecessary Speed is only for money and selfish ambition.
>The physics of cars operating around heavy trucks just doesnt work.
>And if cars are going to get lighter then the problems will increase.
>A change in the nature of shipping goods could help.
>
>Dave.
>
>
>>From: G M <herecomestheflood@yahoo.com>
>>To: Vision 2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
>>Subject: Another Tragedy on Highway 95
>>Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 17:29:19 -0800 (PST)
>>
>>My understanding is that there were three fatalities
>>in
>>the horrible accident south of Moscow on Highway 95
>>today. I also understand that a small child is in the
>>hospital tonight as a result of that accident.
>>
>>Apparently a semi crossed the center line and hit two
>>small vehicles just after 12 noon near, I believe,
>>milepost 340 (I think it was on the incredibly
>>dangerous stretch of road where 3 northbound lanes
>>merge into two at a downhill curve about three miles
>>outside of town. Not sure what the name of that hill
>>is even though I've commuted that route for over ten
>>years and seen other fatal accidents at that site.)
>>
>>As fate would have it, I was delayed just long enough
>>in Moscow today to not be at that point at that time
>>on my commute. Instead I left a few minutes later
>>than planned and was stopped at the edge of town by
>>MPD and told I would need to go through Pullman to get
>>to Lewiston.
>>
>>These tragic accidents always have a profound impact
>>on me and, to some degree, anger me. With all of the
>>carnage we see on our nation's highways, all of the
>>lives lost or forever damaged, all of the victim's
>>families who endure their own pain, it seems there is
>>very little attention paid to this ongoing legacy of
>>death and destruction. No Partnership for an
>>Accident-Free America, no presidential or
>>congressional efforts to focus attention on the
>>destruction that results from
>>less-than-well-engineered highways and dangerous
>>driving.
>>
>>Where is the leadership on this issue?
>>
>>
>>Greg Meyer
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>=====
>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
>>
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
Back to TOC