Reduce speed limit and increase highway safety

It seems that more and more frequently, headline stories, editorials, letters to the editor and pictures in the Bonner County Daily Bee describe or show accidents (some fatal) along the "unsafe" corridor of Highway 95 between Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene.

I recently saw a headline sign just north of Hayden, which read "corridor safety program next 35 miles." Does this mean the state is going to study the route to see how safe it is, or isn't. Anybody who has driven it for any period of time, or pulled out in front of an oncoming car speeding at you at 65 mph knows how dangerous it is.

If the state is really concerned about preventing accidents and saving lives, I think there are at least two things they can do.

The first is to slow traffic down in the congested areas to 45 mph. These dangerous areas, which have numerous traffic entrances and exits, including the stretch of highway just south of the Long Bridge to a little past Bottle Bay Road, the Sagle/Algoma area and Westmond.

The next thing they can do is slow traffic down to 60 mph in the two-lane stretches and passing lanes. Highway 95 north of Sandpoint with two lanes and passing lanes is 60 mph. So why is it 65 mph when you head south of town, which has more traffic.

I believe if the state would take these two traffic safety suggestions to heart, they can help save some lives and prevent some future accidents. It might take two or three minutes longer to get to your destination, but hopefully you would have a safer trip.

CECIL HICKS

Sandpoint