‘Cutting Back the Daily Commute’
I read Martin Brower’s Commentary (Feb. 1) on the traffic problem and was disappointed with his impractical solution. What we really have in Southern California, Los Angeles and Orange County is a people problem. We have too many of them--and they all drive. Why? Because the Orange County Board of Supervisors never met a developer it didn’t like.
This leaves only one answer in the short run (next 10 years): Limit the number of drivers and vehicles. I suggest the following:
Raise the driving age to 18 from 16. This will cut the hundreds of deaths of teen-agers from drunken driving and speeding and eliminate cars from the freeways.
Forbid large truck traffic from freeways during peak traffic hours, (this has been law in Chicago since 1968).
Re-examine all drivers over age 65 each year, giving special attention to those who drive and/or own motor homes.
I disagree with Brower’s statement that Orange County growth cannot be stopped. In the middle 1970s the Arab oil interests started buying up business and property in Switzerland. Government officials in Switzerland passed a law that you must be a Swiss citizen to buy property and business. Switzerland continues in prosperity to this day.
PHILLIP WEISSBURG
San Juan Capistrano
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