Letters: Stop quibbling, lower speed limit to keep rural roads safe

It is easy to relate to the residents of Oceanview Drive and their frustration over the heavy traffic and speeders ("Hwy. 101 project loads up rural road," Aug. 23).

I am a resident of Fred Haight Drive, one of most frequently used rural roads in our county. Our road also used to be much quieter and our town of Smith River was a sleepy little community with so many great people. Those of us who live on Fred Haight are also very concerned with the speeders in particular. It is nothing to see vehicles recklessly going by at high and I mean high rates of speed with no regard for anyone or any animal ... not to mention farm equipment, children, bicyclists, etc.

We have also contacted CHP dispatch many times, but it's difficult to catch a speeder without radar.

Reduce the speed to 45 mph and stop quibbling over which agency has jurisdiction before someone is hurt or killed. We have been dealing with this problem for a very long time and Humboldt Dispatch would be overwhelmed if we called in every speeder. I have even personally seen drag racing late at night on our road. How ignorant is that?

Please, isn't it time to look into squelching the problem for a safer neighborhood?

Joni Forsht

Smith River