To the editor:

The Journal-World reported that the Kansas Department of Transportation is considering centerline “buzz strips” on two-lane highways statewide to reduce accidental crossover by sleepy drivers. Excellent idea. Four more safety ideas, each Douglas County-specific:

¢ Where westbound U.S. Highway 24/40 enters North Lawrence there are no “step-down” speed limit signs. A drowsy motorist doing 60 mph can legally zoom through the North Seventh and Airport Road intersection, past the Airport Motel and KOA campground, straight into 24/40’s T-intersection with U.S. 59 – effectively lured to a rendezvous with death.

¢ Standard city approach signage would acknowledge this area’s hazard density by slowing incoming traffic to 45 mph starting an eighth of a mile east of North Seventh Street, then slowing it again to 35 mph before the KOA entrance and Teepee Junction. This would reduce the frequency and severity of side-impact collisions at these high-potential crash sites.

¢ On Kansas Highway 10 at the YSI Sports Complex red light, drivers will brake to a stop much easier if the 65 mph speed limit there gets re-posted to 50 mph starting a quarter-mile both sides of the light. And on K-10 everywhere adjacent to the East Hills Business Park, the existing 65 mph speed limit should be lowered to 50 mph.

¢ At the Baldwin Junction, U.S. Highway 59’s 55 mph speed limit for north/south traffic should be lowered to 45 mph, like it was in years past.

All four areas above are dangerous because slow-moving vehicles are exposed broadside to high-speed crossing traffic. Slowing the crossing vehicles delivers a long-term safety improvement.

Joe Hyde,

Lawrence