Speeders Should Pay 
~ by James Banzer

   Suppose for a moment that a way were found to potentially save upwards of 12,000 lives that would otherwise be lost in traffic crashes each year. Then
think about how nice it would be if this methodology resulted in much-need funds being poured into the state treasuries.
   Since the money factor probably is a more attractive political aspect of these two positives, let's start there. State governments are scrambling to find ways
to solve their budget crises. Lawmakers are pondering any of a number of things from expanded gambling to raising taxes.
   In the meantime, many state and local employees are being terminated. Park services are being curtailed. Governors are discussing cuts in education funding,
and turn prisoners loose at early dates. The money is not flowing into the state coffers as fluently as before. So, services are on the chopping block
everywhere.
   Well, here's a partial solution to the problem. This is where the savings in lives comes in.
   Now is an opportune time to go after those who speed. There's a gold mine available to the states in traffic fines. It would all be for a good purpose, and it's long overdue.
   Try driving the speed limit on the Interstate system. Just engage the car in the cruise control position and keep it there. You're in for a rude awakening.
   Cars and trucks constantly pass you up. It seems drivers are of the opinion that going 10 or more miles over the posted speed limit is acceptable. Even cops zip past at breakneck speeds.
   Try entering an Interstate. As you get onto the highway, engage the cruise control. Make an effort to edge to the left. Merging into oncoming traffic can be
a nerve-racking experience. As you are going the legal limit, someone invariably keeps you from easily getting into the Interstate traffic. They zoom up just fast enough to make your entrance treacherous.
   When you are on the Interstate and someone is driving ahead of you at less than the speed limit, passing them can be difficult. If the other motorist
accelerates while you are in the passing lane, you can either wait for them to clear some space for you to get back into the slow lane, or speed up to get around
them. By this time, there's a string of vehicles behind you. The impatient motorists are tailgating you, and may even flash their lights to encourage you to put the peddle to the floorboard.
   There seems to be a consensus that the speed laws were made to be broken. Indeed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission contributes to this
predilection. That agency does not consider a traffic death as speed-related unless the speed was 10 or more miles over the posted limit. That's wrong. The laws were established for safety reasons. It is time to get serious about them.
   The year 2002 saw 42,815 traffic fatalities in the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those are mostly people
who would have lived to see 2003 were it not for traffic crashes.
   Very few appear to be concerned about that, but people sure work themselves into a tizzy over a few people dying of West Nile Virus, or SARS, or whatever disease or accidental cause of death is getting its current fifteen minutes of fame. Sure, those things deserve some attention, but it's time to readjust priorities.
   It's great that serious efforts are concentrating on removing drunken drivers from the roadways. It's nice to see the motoring public being educated as to the
benefits of seat-belt usage. It's wonderful to see cars being built much safer than they were a few years back.
   The speed factor related to traffic deaths continues to go largely ignored though. About 30 percent of traffic deaths are attributable to speed. That's where
the rough estimate of 12,000 traffic deaths attributable to speed comes in.
   Strict enforcement of the speed limits would unquestionably go a long way towards cutting traffic deaths, and the fines collected would certainly help
somewhat in alleviating the problems of our state treasuries.
   Oh yeah, the governor who starts such a crackdown is going to take a lot of heat. It might even make them a one-term elected official. A one-termer who embarked upon such a crusade would not be such a bad thing.


090103

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James Banzer has enjoyed a long career in broadcast news and is now writing on his observations about the world around us. He is currently residing in Louisville, Kentucky. You may send an e-mail to him at  jamesbanzer@yahoo.com .