The first step in combating road rage is getting control of speeding on Utah roads.
BIg Cottonwood Canyon is a prime example. I work up-canyon and have not driven that road once in the last three weeks without seeing a motorcycle going double the speed limit. In fact, I was astonished when I saw a rider going the speed limit.
When traffic reports of news outlets put the average speed on a stretch of above the legal limit this indicates a broad problem. The “me first” attitude of many Utah drivers is not uncommonly the cause of many accidents and incidents. The lack of enforcement of speeding and red light and stop sign infractions seems to be a major problem. And I don’t blame the police — their job is tough enough to deal with all the gun battles, domestic violence, and other more serious crimes.
I propose a broad use of “photo cops” to slow traffic down and make dangerous drivers pay for their burden on society. Since our legislators somehow think their constitutional rights are being trampled by this type of surveillance and it is hard to prove who is driving the car, an easy solution would be to ticket the vehicle only, on a sliding scale based on offenses and severity.
After your car reaches a certain number of offenses, it should be impounded (jailed) for a period of time, and the registration fees increased for the following years to reflect its burden on society. I suspect a huge amount of money could be collected, and other taxes that go to speed enforcement could be reduced and save those that actually follow the law a substantial sum without violating the imaginary rights of people who get behind the wheel.
Chris Pond, Sandy
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