Dangerous speed limit for Highway 2000
published: Tuesday | September 23, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS A regular user of the Old Harbour bypass, I have to say that I am, for the most part, satisfied with the highway. My daily commute into Kingston has been severely reduced and I do not have to suffer the unbearable traffic through the Old Harbour town. Like everyone else, I will be most saddened when the toll becomes effective, as I will not be paying $100 daily to use it, despite the convenience.
Nevertheless, my concern is not with the toll charges but the proposed speed limit. Whereas the speed limit of 110km per hour is acceptable for cars, I do not think this limit is appropriate for trucks, buses and larger vehicles. As it stands, on the regular highways the speed limit for trucks is 15km/hr below that of smaller vehicles. I am sure this was done for a particular reason. Surely the authorities must realise that the damage resulting from a car going at 110km/hr can be disastrous, but that from a speeding truck will not only be catastrophic but almost always fatal!
I urge the relevant persons to look into this and put the speed limit for trucks at no greater than the present speed limit of 65km/hr or below 80km/hr. To not do so is asking for trouble.
Death on the road is no way to control our population growth rate. We deserve better.
