Letter: Why is Rt. 24 safety not a DOT or police priority?

Posted 8/12/18

To the editor:

Why is it that whenever I drive on Route 24 South at the end of Route 24 (after the Turnpike Avenue exit) where the posted speed limit is 40 mph, there is always somebody attempting …

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Letter: Why is Rt. 24 safety not a DOT or police priority?

Posted

To the editor:

Why is it that whenever I drive on Route 24 South at the end of Route 24 (after the Turnpike Avenue exit) where the posted speed limit is 40 mph, there is always somebody attempting to pass all vehicles (in the left lane, or in the right lane, or in the emergency lane, or in one half of a lane, at 60 or 70 mph where there is no room? 

Could it be that the reckless driver attempting such an idiotic action has always used this area for passing people and has never been cited for speeding, reckless driving, passing illegally, following too closely, cutting several drivers off, and making several lane changes illegally without proper directional signals 100 feet before lane changes (possibly accumulating a list of six or more violations)? 

Could it be that the end of Route 24 is not patrolled by local Portsmouth Police or RI State Police?  Could it be that the area is not properly marked to identify it as a road with the left lane ending?  Could it be that the end of Route 24 should be marked and have signs indicating "No Passing In Any Lane" for the last half mile, since there is insufficient area to pass or to legally signal a lane change, or to return to the right lane after passing?  Could or should the last quarter mile of the left lane be crosshatched in yellow and have buzz strips to discourage the illegal and unsafe passing?  Or could it be that all of the above are true? 

 Why haven't the local Portsmouth Police, or the RI State Police, or the RI DOT done something to prevent the illegal and reckless practice that is common for 20to 40 percent of the drivers using Route 24?  Could it be due to incompetence on somebody's part?  Could it be because there have not been enough accidents?  Could it be because there have not been any deaths, or because there have not been enough deaths? 

Why is safety not an RI DOT priority, or a police priority? 

Is it not time to correct this deadly safety problem? 

Roger A. Bennis

Tiverton

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