SAFETY A CONCERN AS SPEED LIMITS WEIGHED

Although the federal speed limit was enacted as an energy-saving measure, the reduction of injuries and fatalities in traffic accidents that followed was quickly noticed.

With the repeal of the federal limit, state lawmakers must decide how to balance the popular desire for higher speeds while maintaining safe roadways.

Cape Girardeau Sheriff John Jordan believes that the status quo -- at least on two-lane rural highways -- is fast enough.

"I would just as soon see the speed limits on secondary roads remain at 55 mph," Jordan said.

A task force appointed by Gov. Mel Carnahan is studying the issue and will make recommendations to the General Assembly. Although it is too early to tell what will be passed into law, it seems likely speeds on some roadways -- particularly rural interstates -- will increase.

If increases do happen, Jordan believes law enforcement should respond by being tougher on speeders to send a message that speed limits are important.

"If speed limits go to 70 on the interstate, I would like troopers and people who enforce the limits to give less leeway," Jordan said.

Unless officers crack down, drivers will continue driving 5 to 10 mph faster than the posted limit, Jordan said. While currently that may mean 70 or 75 mph, in the future it could be 80 or 85 mph.

"I think that is obviously a given with speed limits because most of the time drivers know there is some variable there with what law enforcement will let them do," he said.

The city of Cape Girardeau will be largely unaffected by speed changes since 35 mph is the maximum proscribed by ordinance on city streets. However, Sgt. Al Moore of the Cape Girardeau Police Department's traffic division predicts more accidents at intersections with the interstate.

"Places like Center Junction will be a problem," Moore said of the interchange between Cape Girardeau and Jackson. "Cars from the interstate will be coming up on the intersection at much faster speeds."

President Clinton last week signed the measure into a law to end the 21-year-old federal speed limit. Under Missouri law, the state will automatically return to its previous maximum of 70 mph on major four-lane thoroughfares and 65 mph on undivided highways.

The law will take effect next week but Carnahan asked for an extension of the federal law, which will give the legislature until April to pass new legislation. Illinois has already decided to keep current limits in place.

According to statistics provided by the Missouri Highway Patrol, speeding is a definite factor on both the frequency and severity of traffic accidents.

In 1994, 16.8 percent of all traffic accidents and 36.7 percent of all fatal accidents in Missouri were speed related. A total of 402 people were killed and 17,665 injured in 1994 in accidents in which speed played a role.

Of total speed-related accidents, 48.5 percent occurred in rural areas. However, 76.2 of speed-related fatalities were in rural areas.

Capt. Clarence Greeno, director of public information for the Highway Patrol, said that during 1994 in Missouri a person was killed or injured in a speed-related crash every 29.1 minutes.

Cape Girardeau County, along with Taney County, ranked 11th in the state in 1994 with 407 crashes in which speeding was involved. Scott County ranked 23rd with 190 speed-related accidents.

In the city of Cape Girardeau so far this year only 18 accidents -- .53 percent -- were proven to be caused by speeding, said Moore. However, he added that the true number is much higher.

Looking at traffic accidents in the city this year regardless of cause, through November numbers are running about one month ahead of 1994. A total of 2,002 accidents were reported.

Moore said the rise in accidents is related to a decline in the number of citations issued. Since officers have responded to more calls for assistance this year, they have had less time to spend on traffic enforcement. Moore estimates 130 more accidents but 250 fewer tickets in 1995 as compared to the previous year.

"When the number of tickets officers write go down, the number of accidents go up," Moore said. "That is common knowledge in law enforcement."