Highway Deaths

Re Highway 46, east of Paso Robles (April 28): There are many “blood alleys” in California. The problem is excessive speed. As freeway speeds increase, speed on connector links rises proportionally. The present speed limit on Highway 46 and a similar road, Highway 154, is 55 mph. Drivers are currently maintaining speeds of 65 to 80 on both roads. If you drive 55 you’re in danger of being eaten by an SUV. It is unrealistic to expect the California Highway Patrol to cite every speeder with its present staffing levels.

A possible solution is to set the speed limit at 45 mph on “blood alleys.” Advertise them as speed traps and double the traffic fines, as the state is now doing in construction zones. Death crosses and headlights are not effective.

JIM NORRIS

Los Olivos

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Re “Dozens Hurt as 150 Vehicles Crash on I-10,” April 29:

I dread being in Los Angeles when it is rainy or foggy. So many people don’t slow down that everyone is forced to “go with the flow,” and the result is inevitable.

When is L.A. going to modernize its freeway system? The speed limit should be posted every mile with electronic signs that could be programmed via a phone call from the CHP. Thus the speed limit could be changed according to conditions in a given area for weather, accidents, etc. Policing it would remain the problem of the CHP, but I think the majority would respect it. Fines could be doubled if a violation occurred when the posted limit was flashing versus steady, which would be appropriate for nonstandard conditions. I think this would save countless injuries and property damage/insurance costs.

ROBERT CORZINE

Ridgecrest

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The Times’ saturation coverage of the April 20 murders in Littleton, Colo., deprives readers of any sense of proportion. Based on recent annual totals, in the eight days after two publicity-seeking sociopaths murdered 13 innocent people, about 1,000 Americans died horribly in traffic collisions. That’s an average of 120 per day. Most were innocent. Many were children. Hardly any made the news.

Every one of those traffic deaths was due to aggressiveness, recklessness or inattention. Let’s save some outrage for less sensational forms of homicide.

JOHN C. COLLINS

Long Beach