We’ve all heard that no one is safe so long as the North Dakota Legislature is in session—if the proposed speed limit increase to 80 mph becomes law, the case will have been proven. Insurance companies, which tend to notice such things, are surely paying attention. Premiums reflect risk to the insurer. Expect a letter should the proposal succeed.
Likely outcomes of the increased average speed include higher death rates per driven mile, an increase in number and severity of crashes, and a general lessening of highway safety for the driving public. One would think the sight of our highway ditches littered with wrecks this winter might give pause to those who think we aren’t driving fast enough in North Dakota. Eighty miles per hour is a “solution” which only worsens the problem of reckless behavior (no pun intended).
Thomas Dolan lives in Fargo.
This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.
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