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Opposed to raising speed limits

February 05, 2006

Dear Editor:

The hot button issue this week in Frankfort is raising the speed limit on rural interstate highways from 65 to 70 miles an hour, so we had to do the math. A 200-mile trip through Kentucky will save a whopping 13 minutes! This can't be the motivation for this bill. With all of the real problems we have in our state, if this is what we are paying our representatives to do, then we are the idiots.

Of the 39 states that have raised the speed limit, fatalities are up 15 percent. The supporters of this bill like to quote the Transportation Cabinet's statement that the interstates are designed to handle 70 mph. (Too bad they are maintained to only handle 35 mph.) What they are not telling you is the bill also will raise the speed limit on some state roads from 55 to 65 mph. Are these roads designed for the increase? With all of the ingress and slow-moving vehicles on Kentucky roads, I doubt it!

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And if you believe the argument that it will be easier to enforce the higher limit, then we have some beachfront property we would like to sell you in North Dakota. With the energy crisis and increase in fatalities, maybe we should encourage travelers to slow down through Kentucky and enjoy the beautiful scenery. This just might be the best economic development plan that has come along in a long time.

As parents who have buried a child due to a needless highway accident, we are asking you to voice your opposition to your state representative and state senator immediately. It's time some people in Frankfort grew a backbone.

Ed and Pat Ensslin

Danville

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