I’d like to respond to an April 30 letter to the editor titled, “Cops pestering efficient drivers.” I agree with the writer’s view that posted speed limits are set “artificially low.”
However, he mistakenly groups “freeways and arterials” together. He wrote, “My car is my freedom, and I invoke my right and freedom to protest and be civilly disobedient by exceeding the posted speed limits on arterials and freeways as much as possible.” True, freedom and freeways kinda go together. Freedom and arterials not so much.
When I drive 80 mph on a freeway, I will get to my destination sooner than if I drive at the posted speed limit of 60 mph. When I drive 50 mph on an arterial, I will not reach my destination any sooner than if I drive at the posted speed limit of 35 mph. Why? Because of stop lights.
I have traversed Evergreen Way every day for many years and I have found that when I drive 10 mph over the speed limit, all I’m doing is wasting gas and putting more wear and tear on my brakes. When I drive the speed limit and see someone whizzing by me doing 50 or 55, I invariably catch up to him at the next stop light. Stop lights tend to put a damper on our “freedom.” When I’m driving in town, I’ve found it is more “efficient” to drive the speed limit.
Daniel Braun
Everett
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