August 2005 Newsletter

NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION

MASSACHUSETTS PAGE

Hello Massachusetts Motorists

This is how 2005 has been shaping up so far.

NEWS FROM THE HIGH FINANCE DEPARTMENT:

The $14.5 billion Big Dig tunnel continues to leak.

The Guv is still trying to reform the old auto insurance system so that poor companies such as Liberty Mutual (the proud sponsor of the Boston Pops July 4th Celebration at a cool $2 million a year) can make some more money.

The Turnpike Authority considers a proposed 75 foot long ramp in Allston a "bargain" at a mere $1.4 million.

THE "MOBILIZATION" PERIODS:

More than 280 Massachusetts police departments joined in the "You drink and drive, you lose" mobilization (the fourth such campaign in 2005) conducted between July 1 and July 17. Thousands upon thousands of motorists got ticketed mainly for speeding, as the police officers clamored to collect their share of the half a million dollars provided by the federal government.

"July Forth is a time to celebrate with family and friends all that's great about America. However, we all must keep our guard up against the dangers of drunken driving over this holiday period," said the Secretary of of Public Safety. (I don't know about you, but my "holiday period" lasted one day - not 17, like his.)

So what caused such a massive show of force this year? Exactly how many people were killed in Massachusetts over the two-day July Forth holiday period in 2004? Well, as it turns out last year there were exactly two people killed in Massachusetts in motor vehicle crashes during that period - and neither one was caused by drunk driving... But I digress.

During the July Fourth feeding frenzy on I-95, a Massachusetts man struck a New Hampshire state trooper with his car after skidding into the breakdown lane where the trooper was standing.

The reason N.H. Captain Christopher Colitti was standing with two other officers in the breakdown lane was that they were on the "You drink and drive, you lose" patrol. (Apparently in New Hampshire, a radar or LIDAR gun can somehow determine who's been drinking and who hasn't...)

As the driver was slowing down to let officers run out on the Interstate and stop a car in front of him, he skidded into the breakdown lane (which was by the way specifically designed for emergency stopping). Since he wasn't speeding, he was cited with operating at unreasonable speed and - presumably based on his un-American name - the officers were working to check his legal status in this country. Happy Fourth, Dionicio Pablo!

Meanwhile back in Massachusetts, Colonel Thomas G. Robbins announced that road blocks will be implemented two weeks after the Forth of July weekend for the purpose "to further educate the motoring public." And just try to refuse or even question this education!

MEANWHILE, BACK ON PLANET EARTH:

In June, the National Motorists Association promoted its third annual Lane Courtesy Month. With a new slogan "Drive Right!" and a new web site (http://www.lanecourtesy.org/), the NMA is asking drivers to practice lane courtesy by yielding to faster traffic. Each year more and more local papers pick up the story and publish an article on this concept.

...AND THE LATEST FIGURES ARE IN

The 2004 fatality rate dropped again, from 1.48 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2003 to 1.46 deaths in 2004. (By the way, the Massachusetts rate is about half of that.) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the rate was the lowest since records were first kept in 1966, when it was 5.50 deaths.

BRIEFLY NOTED:

Maine recently joined E-ZPass for tolls on the Maine Turnpike. In addition, over the summer, E-ZPass is also being introduced in New Hampshire.

Plans are under way for a Holiday Party later this year. Stay tuned for a date and location.

Ivan
Massachusetts State Chapter Coordinator 8/05

Below are additional notes from John Carr, our State Chapter Coordinator.

Route 3

Over the past few years Route 3 from Burlington to New Hampshire was rebuilt and is now a six-lane highway with full shoulders on both sides and improved interchanges. But the speed limit is still 55. The Boston Globe has reported twice that the speed limit will never be increased because the road was only designed for 55.

Because the road is obviously safe at higher speeds I called MassHighway to check on this statement. They referred me to Modern Continental, the contractor responsible for the project, and their spokesman told me that in fact the highway was designed for 110 km/h (68 MPH). This is the standard design speed for Interstate and equivalent highways.

The average speed of traffic on Route 3 is 70 MPH. The road was designed for safe travel at that speed. But the speed limit is still 55!

Milford

In a remarkable change from past practice, MassHighway threatened to withhold highway funds from the town of Milford unless the town removed illegal speed limit signs. MassHighway has never authorized the town to post any speed limits but there are many "SPEED LIMIT 30" on town roads. Usually when confronted with an illegal speed limit MassHighway tries not to get involved even though state law designates them as the enforcement authority.

BACK TO Massachusetts News