February 20, 2004
As relative newcomers to the Prescott area, my wife and I are appalled at the carnage that is being enacted along the stretch of (highway) 69 through Prescott Valley and Prescott.
This stretch of road is urban all along its length with many intersections and incoming and exiting traffic. Speed limits vary from 45 mph in Prescott, and Prescott Valley, to 55 mph in the bit between the two towns (which includes Diamond Valley). Why this difference? While traffic lights do not remove the risk of accidents, they are able to provide breaks in the traffic flow for the residents to join the flow more safely, and if there are enough of them, they will slow the average speed along the length of the road.
I note the glib statements from our law enforcement about driving, but merely telling people has no effect whatsoever and the officials must know it. (And it must be noted, since this article was originally written, we have seen a bigger presence of law enforcement on highway 69). In Texas where we came from, when the local Sherrif was asked why his officers were not enforcing the speed limits, the following answer was provided:
"...The Sherrif is an elected individual. Most Americans want to speed and the Sherrif wishes to be re-elected."This system only supports selective implementation of the law and it looks as if AZ is just as guilty.
England only controlled the speeding of their population by installing cameras at traffic lights and along the highway. When first installed the revenue paid for the installation. Figures now show that for every 1% reductionin average speed there is a 7% reduction in fatalities. Also, injuries have been reduced by 35% with the introduction of cameras. Speeding has been reduced by 96%. Healthcare and related costs can amount to $1.6b per annum in speed related accidents in a population of 60m, and a 1% reduction in police time can reduce the tax bill by $8m in a year. Statistics show you are more likely to be killed in a traffic accident than by terrorist acts.*
Until American society accepts that Laws have to be enforced for the safety of all road users, the current carnage on the roads of Prescott and Prescott Valley will only increase together with taxes and insurance premiumsto pay for the emergency services and hospitalization of the injured.
Sincerely,
Elaine & Philip Tucker
* Statistics can be found at www.cfit.gov.uk/factsheets/03/index.htm