Speeding on Freeways

* In your article regarding speeding in California (Feb. 26) you feed us the usual standard-issue garbage forked out by the Highway Patrol and the insurance companies, i.e., “Speed Kills!” This is absolute nonsense. Speed does not kill. Three different conditions kill:

-- The road condition. Modern highways were designed in the 1950s to allow safe travel at average speeds of 75 m.p.h.! If the road surface is bad or the weather is causing poor visibility, slow down.

-- The car condition. Modern automobiles are twice as safe and reliable compared to 20 years ago. That was the time, however, when Detroit produced the worst cars on earth, and these clunkers with shredded vinyl roofs, swinging fenders and broken headlamps are still with us. Get them off the streets!

-- The driver’s skill. Instead of everybody having to slow down to a “safe” speed in order to accommodate for the lowest possible level of driving skills, the driving tests should be very stringent and the level of public driving ability raised to that of our European counterparts.

So please, let us stop using the old slogans and address the real problems. If a law is broken by more than 85% (very conservative estimate) of the driving population every day and night, then maybe there is something wrong with the law.

KLAUS H. POHL

San Clemente

* I drive from La Canada to Port Hueneme on a regular basis; on the 210, then to the 118 freeway to Moorpark, to Somas, then to Port Hueneme via Lewis Road, a trip of 65 miles. On Monday I decided to drive the freeway at 55 m.p.h. in the right-hand lane. I passed one overloaded truck and 146 cars passed me, including three school buses and five 18-wheelers. I got four flashing lights, three horn blasts and the finger two times, and I will not forget the eight tailgaters.

The end result: It took only 8 minutes longer to get there, 1 hour 29 minutes. What is the rush? Look for me on the freeway at 55, in a red Ranger pickup, and I too will give you the finger.

ED TIFFANY

La Canada

* The 55 m.p.h. freeway limitation is a disgrace in many places. Who is the loser here? Could it be respect for the law? I say let’s put this law back to where it was before 1974, as an advisory speed limit only, so that law-abiding drivers can flow safely with the speed of the traffic and stay within the law.

RALPH LARSON

Coronado