Raise Limit to 65 M.P.H.?
How do the authorities believe that they can keep the “true” speed on our highways at 65 any better than they can keep it at 55? There are those who maintain that the highways and automobiles are built for 75-plus and, by gosh, they are going to drive that fast. Furthermore, there are those drivers who are always in a hurry, or who always want to go faster than others traveling on the highway.
Although trucks are to be excluded from the proposed raise to 65, many now are traveling at 65 to 70, and you can bet that many will continue to “keep up with the traffic” and to continue to endanger lives.
The fines imposed for speeding are generally easily paid by the speeders. If the fine were impounding of the automobile or truck for a period of time, there might be a chance of keeping the speed down to the legal limit. A truck driver would know that he would lose his job if he speeds, and the employer would be careful to hire someone who wants to work.
Driving is a privilege that is licensed to protect us all. If a driver breaks the law by speeding, that driver should lose the privilege. Taking away the license too often does not keep that driver off the road. True, families suffer when one driver loses the automobile for a while, but so do families suffer when someone is maimed or killed by a speeder.
M. LOUISE HARPER
Santa Barbara
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