Turnpike danger

I regularly drive nearly the length of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, averaging more than 26,000 miles a year on several highways. As such, I am very familiar with all the construction sites and am a well-seasoned highway driver.

On May 12, I was heading eastbound and passed by a fatal accident in the westbound lanes near Irwin. Sadly, it did not surprise me. I regularly see accidents and near-accidents in the construction zones. The large majority of drivers, including truckers, are speeding through those areas often talking on cell phones or sending text messages. I have never seen a single trooper enforcing the speed limits.

The lanes are very narrow, and the road is in poor condition. I remain in the right lane, yet I regularly have trucks and SUVs riding my bumper often screaming at me or gesturing. I sometimes reluctantly speed up just to avoid getting run over.

If the troopers would get out there and start cracking down on the speeders, accidents like the one I saw would not happen. I drove through the same stretch of turnpike the other day fully expecting that there would be a police presence. There was none.

It is no wonder people drive so recklessly. They know that the Pennsylvania State Police are doing nothing to protect the motorists or the workers, and they are too ignorant to understand how dangerous their driving is.

We have already told our children that we will pay to have them fly home until the Pennsylvania Turnpike construction is either closer to completion or the speed limits are being strictly enforced. The summer driving season will likely be a dangerous one, particularly from the Ohio border to New Stanton, unless drivers slow down and pay attention.

DEBBIE RUMP
Maumee, Ohio