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Show SMews Views By GARY R. BL0DGETT Editor If you think motorists are confused and disturbed j ' about the new 65 miles per hour speed limit , ask the ; feelings of those who have to enforce the law. ( I have, and they are upset, too! ! "It's the most difficult thing we have had to try and enforce and still keep a good image of public - relations," said one Utah Highway Patrol trooper. ' "Most motorists are confused and very Irate when they are pulled over for speeding while believing j they are in a 65-mph zone." , The trooper continued: "Look at this, I pulled this motorist over for doing 68 mph in a 55-mph zone i and that's my Job, he was speeding. But look what : we face as I try to explain the new speed law." ' j Straight ahead less than 100 feet in front of the . UHP vehicle is a speed limit sign reading: 65 mphl "He was speeding through the 55 mph zone on the i north end of Bountiful, but had he been one mile further up the Interstate Highway his 68 mph speed probably would have gone unnoticed. And that's hard for a motorist to understand when you hand ' him a ticket for excessive speed." said the trooper. "We believe in controlling speed on the interstate j as much as we can according to the law, but it . certainly is difficult trying to present a good image i and making an irate motorist understand the sepa- rated speed zones when It's hard for us to compre- ;: hend what is being done." The above scenario is not ficticious. I saw ft hap- ' pen and I talked to the trooper involved . 1 wanted to t "stage" a picture of a pulled-over motorist next to that very same sign. That wasn't necessary be- s cause the "stop" was perfect for my picture. The trooper was obviously concerned about the different C55 mph and 65 mph) speed zones throughout the state especially In Davis County. "Why would they increase this area between Cen- . terville and Kaysville to 65 mph when It's the 'death ; trap of the county? There are more serious accl- ; dents in this four-mile stretch of I-1 5 than any other 1 in Davis County. Increasing the speed doesn't make any sense at all." And it's the only stretch of 1-15 In Davis County . " with the newly approved 65 mph maximum speed i limit. 5 Will the 65-mph zones change driving habits? Or 1 will motorists continue to travel at a speed that ! they believe they can get away with? 1 I believe that unless the law is strictly enforced, ) the 65 mph will soon be 70 and above. It already ,- Isl j In that "four-mile stretch to work this, morning !, "" had eight Cars and one truck pass me. I was 'locked-"4 1 In" at 65 mph and they were driving up my tailpipe 1 like I was standing still. ' After coming off the 55-mph stretch to the north, ! It appeared that they wanted to "make up lost time" 2 and those nine vehicles were traveling "at least 70 -t miles per hour." Three or four other cars were gain- i ing fast, undoubtedly exceeding the new 65 miles ' per hour speed limit in that one stretch of Davis 5 County. -a I've been told by troopers in the past that "an -even flow of traffic is the most deslreable way of ' travel." When traffic is allowed to travel the same 1 stretch at speeds from 55 to 70. the chances of , accidents increase. Then why not open all the rural areas of the state to 65 mph and then strictly enforce this speed thus keeping the flow of traffic steady? ,2 Do the same thing in Salt Lake County but at a ' maximum speed of 55 mph. Ticket those exceeding 't 60 miles per hour. In the 65 mph zones, ticket those exceeding 68 miles per hour. This would provide a more "even flow" of traffic i and keep those dang trucks and Impatient vehicle drivers from running up my tailpipe. |