Letter to the editor: Danger: Law-abiding driver ahead

By Stephen Joe Payne, Bartlesville - 11/5/2009


I live in Bartlesville but I spend a lot of time in Tulsa. We usually drive south on U.S. 75 into Tulsa. There are two places along the road where traffic signs order us to drive 10 mph slower. The first is at Ramona, where the speed limit is lowered from 70 mph to 60 mph. The second is at 116th Street North, where the speed limit is lowered from 65 mph to 55 mph.

I reduce my speed in both places because I do not think it is a suggestion. The last time I reviewed the driver's handbook and according to some signs on the roads in Oklahoma, the general order is "obey all traffic signs."

My wife tells me not to slow down because she is afraid I am going to cause an accident by obeying the law. Please think about that: Cause an accident by obeying the law. Some people do not even slow from their 80 mph to 70 mph at 116th Street North. Both of these intersections are dangerous and there have been accidents there that killed people.

Please encourage people to obey these signs and help save lives. Barring that, please ask the state to eliminate these speed reduction areas so that the three or four of us who actually do reduce speed will not cause an accident by obeying the law.



Letters to the editor are encouraged. Each letter must be signed and include an address and a telephone number where the writer can be reached during business hours. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be a maximum of 250 words to be considered for publication and may be edited for length, style and grammar. Letters should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Tulsa World, Box 1770, Tulsa, Okla., 74102, or send e-mail to letters@tulsaworld.com.


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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QLC, (11/5/2009 8:59:56 AM)
Hey Stephen, why don't you just keep your sanctimonious attitude up there in Bartlesville and that way you will be very safe. But if you should venture back onto a highway, please stay out of the way! You are not law enforcement. And you are not the morality police. If you are having any trouble identifying which is the passing lane, it is the side your steering wheel is on, so please move to the right. Your fear and potential for harm most likely comes from wanting to taunt other drivers to teach them a lesson. This could get you killed. Best advice, STAY HOME!

FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (11/5/2009 8:38:38 AM)
Yeah FS I was going to say to hmmmmm that last I checked speed limit signs were a little more than a "suggestion". Maybe I had a defense in my last ticket that I didn't know about, haha

my view, Sand Springs (11/5/2009 11:53:20 AM)
Black numbers on a white background is not the suggested speed limit but the speed limit. Those that want to speed I guess that's alright it's your money.

Middleway(MB), Undisclosed Location (11/5/2009 1:16:12 PM)
I usually drive 60-65 mph all the time. It saves on gas (I get 40-45 mph in my toyota echo), but the main reason i do it is to tick off people like mike2000 Ive taken defensive driving, heres a few facts: at 75 mph, in the time it takes to move your foot from the gas to the brake youve travelled 68ft 75mph is way too fast for normal drivers to react in time, and reactions to roadway obstacles at that speed are usually met with rollovers and crashes sleep deprivation is as bad as drunk driving cell phones, radios, food, drinks are all hazards, especially at 75 mph I love it when suvs or hummers get behind me and flash their lights or fly the finger...I just slow down. And im big enough so none of you fools who think they are a tough guy sacre me. manage your time and slow down.

Middleway(MB), Undisclosed Location (11/5/2009 7:15:00 PM)
Why is it that anyone driving faster than you is an idiot, and anyone driving slower than you is a moron?"...George Carlin

Middleway(MB), Undisclosed Location (11/5/2009 10:42:44 PM)
I dont know where u get your info James Young, but it sounds biased to me. according to the OHP in a report released in 2005, since raising the speed limits of state hwys to 75 mph, hi rate of speed contributed to 49% of all traffic fatalities. a speed limit is a speed limit, not a suggestion, and by your logic James, we should all start driving 90 mph and the OHP wont do anything about it?... Thats ridiculous.

mongo76, (11/5/2009 1:06:34 PM)
Hey Dusty do you look like Cheech & Chong & drive a custom van with frilly curtains? (grin)

Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (11/5/2009 10:51:07 AM)
Mr. Payne, it's okay to drive off a cliff if everyone else is doing it. Right?

FS, Broken Arrow (11/5/2009 8:26:00 AM)
I normally drive the posted limit - not slower - as I have no intent of "feeding the kitty", so to speak. I try to position myself between the ever-present packs people tend to drive as I believe the best way to avoid a wreck is to not be near fools. I'm seldom in the far left lane except on the most rare occasion someone isn't driving at the posted limit. I will not pass on the right - that's only for those who are really in a rush. Some nights, I have to avoid the rally-kids in their Hondas with the fart-tube exhaust who slow down to a crawl then race ahead only to slow down to 30 mph (on 169) and do it again. They are occasionally joined by a fool or two on a motorcycle doing wheelies for a half mile. I almost hit one of those twits one night. It's a shame these brats don't have more wrecks (hopefully with each other) since the cops are never present. I can't figure with the Tulsa cops don't target these kinds of drivers as the fines for this stupidity are high-dollar.

FS, Broken Arrow (11/5/2009 8:31:53 AM)
To hmmmmmmm: So people are supposed to do everything possible to get out of your way because you choose to break the law and speed while driving. You've got a lot of nerve calling someone else self-righteous.

FS, Broken Arrow (11/5/2009 8:53:04 AM)
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (11/5/2009 8:38:38 AM) Yeah FS I was going to say to hmmmmm that last I checked speed limit signs were a little more than a "suggestion". Maybe I had a defense in my last ticket that I didn't know about, haha ________________________________ Yep - hmmmm and his/her type never cease to amaze me with their sense of self importance. Probably one of the "time is money" crowd that speed from one place to another while on the phone running their business from their car. I can't understand why the cops are afraid to cite these idiots.

FS, Broken Arrow (11/5/2009 10:31:00 AM)
archer64, tulsa (11/5/2009 9:52:28 AM) I meant the other left (right) geez... ;) _________________________ Are you really in such a hurry you can't tell left from right? A question for you, hmmmm, and QLC - assuming you get where you're going without causing a wreck due to your excessive speed, what are you going to do with that extra 1 or 2 minutes you gained while only driving 5 or 10 miles? It's really comical how relatively "nice" people can turn into an obnoxious and "entitled" type-A when they get behind the wheel of a car.

FS, Broken Arrow (11/5/2009 11:50:30 AM)
Thunder196, Tulsa (11/5/2009 11:35:12 AM) People like QlC are the ones with the sanctimonious attitudes. ... snip Speeding is the number one reason for accidents. ________________________ Speeding, by itself, isn't so much a cause of accidents as is not having enough common sense to realize when not to speed or even go slower than the posted limits. The "I'm in a hurry" crowd needs to be nailed to the proverbial cross since they're obviously unable to think due to their self importance. Common sense is the determining factor and the vast majority of Okie drivers haven't any of that.

fredsdad, Tulsa, OK (11/5/2009 10:42:43 AM)
I try to drive between the two lanes, so as not to unduly inconvenience either one of them. Fred always rides in the back seat. Everybody honks and waves at Fred as they come by. While they all seem excited to see and wave at Fred, it amazes me how lazy people have become with their waving lately. They wave with only one finger instead of their whole hand like I do.

Fruits&Nuts, (11/5/2009 2:02:58 PM)
What a bunch of idiots. We will see how boastful you are when one of those fingers is on a gun's trigger. I would pay a lot to see your faces when that happens. Because as someone else said, if they will break one law, they will break others. Try not to wet yourselves when you see the gun, and then ask yourself how much it was worth the moment of glee while holding people up. Even the cops will tell you to just get out of their way and let them pass. You are safer with them ahead of you than behind you. Idiots.

Hijinx, (11/5/2009 7:11:07 AM)
Tell me you a least pull over into the right lane. And don’t hold your breath waiting for the signs to come down.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/5/2009 2:15:58 PM)
I go the speed limit in the left hand lane. If someone starts flashing or nudging to the left I slow down. Speeders can kiss my ***.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/5/2009 2:17:41 PM)
By the way you are not allowed to drive under the speed limit in the left hand lane and a lot of people don't know that. I do it just to p iss off people who tailgate.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/5/2009 4:12:48 PM)
Holy cow sounds like Bill means business!!!!

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/6/2009 1:26:11 PM)
Bfleet: What I said in my previous post was that I drive the speed limit in the left hand lane which is 100% legal. I do not have to get over in the right lane if the car behind me feels like speeding. I am obeying the law perfectly. Now when I am doing the speed limit in the left lane and a person starts tailgating that is when I slow down. Some idiots think that they they are allowed to drive over the speed limit in the left lane which is not true, hence the word "limit". It is however against the law to drive under the speed limit in the left hand lane, many people do not know this.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/6/2009 1:32:14 PM)
James Young: I will not put up with a person tailgating my vehicle when i am doing the speed limit. Therefore I will slow down to make a point. James I hope you get tickets for breaking the road laws.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/6/2009 1:35:49 PM)
Tailgating is good manners. Thanks for the laugh Joyce.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/6/2009 1:49:25 PM)
I do not understand why anyone would want to put up with a tailgater. I've never been involved in a road rage incident. I have been flipped off by tailgaters which is humorous. Can someone tell me if there is a law that says you are required to let a speeding tailgater pass you in the left hand lane when you are going the speed limit (?).

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/6/2009 2:09:42 PM)
Thank you for clarification, Bill. Slowing down in the left hand lane will in fact get you a ticket. I guess my problem is with tailgaters. Hopefully if a cop notices I am going toooo slow in the left hand lane he will know it is because of the tailgater behind me. I'll pay the ticket for going slow but I won't tolerate a tailgater.

dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (11/5/2009 11:56:34 AM)
when I drive the I-44 I drive the speed limit because there is a state trooper who has pulled me over 3 times now with some bogus complaint (yet never ticketed me.) I know he's there and for whatever reason, I know he's got me in his sights. I try to stay in the right lane and do the speed limit. I have been honked at, lights flashed at, been given the finger and the best of all, given the finger by SUV drivers on cel phones. But I never see that state trooper pulling them over. I wonder why? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the first time he pulled me over I still had California plates. He asked me if I had drugs in the car. I said no. He said "doesn't everyone in California do drugs, come on now, you don't even have a roach in the ashtray?" Well there you have it. It's OK to speed, to talk on the cel phone, text, wander lanes but if you have California plates for a couple of weeks you're a marked man. Wonderful.


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