LETTERS: NEW SPEED LIMITS SAFER?

To the editor:

In the March 8 Southeast Missourian, I read with considerable interest the article, "Speed limit bill goes to governor," and noted the subheading, "Higher speeds may affect insurance rates." According to the article, the public information officer for the Missouri Department of Insurance is of the opinion that increasing the speed limits will lessen a driver's response time, and the degree of damage will go up proportionately with the degree of increased speed.

If the speed limits are increased, we may, in fact, find the converse of that statement to be closer to the truth, especially when we are driving the current posted speed limit and practically everyone is breezing past us as thought we were driving in neutral.

If the interstate speed is increased to 70 mph, then all of those wild and crazy drivers doing 85 mph-plus will have to slow down 15 mph to comply with the new speed limit. Just think how much safer we would be with this forced reduction in speed for all those high-fliers doing 85 mph-plus.

And with this forced reduction in speed should come a reduction in accidents and, consequently, a reduction in our insurance rates. With this scenario, we would all benefit in a positive rather than a negative manner.

WILLIAM H. NEEDHAM

Cape Girardeau