Coddling Stupid Drivers

So yet again, people are bitching about Highway 22 in Louisville.

Their summary? The gorgeous, country-inside-the-city two lane road is too dangerous because there are so many wrecks. Their solution? PAVE EVERYTHING OVER. That's right, they want to widen a narrow essentially country road into a minimum of three lanes. Why? Because they think it will be safer. Hey, jackholes! Here's a tip! It could be seventeen lanes, and it would still be dangerous! Why? BECAUSE PEOPLE DRIVE LIKE STUPID FUCKING ASSHOLES! That's why!

I drive this road every day, multiple times a day. Sometimes only twice. Others as much as six or eight if I'm running errands, visiting friends, et cetera. Sometimes during rush hour only. Other times at all hours. Yes, it is a vital access road to different sections of town. Yes, I am a resident of the surrounding area. NO, I do NOT agree that it needs wholesale widening.

What would widening do? Nothing, except encourage speeders to continue speeding. At best, it would reduce wrecks by around 30 percent (roughly the number of rear-end accidents on Hwy22). 30 percent. So, we're going to wreck an entire scenic corridor because of a few dozen non-fatal wrecks a year? All because people drive too carelessly? How about enforcing speed limits? How about HOLDING DRIVERS AT FAULT WHEN THEY SLAM INTO SOMEONE'S REAR-END AT 45 FUCKING MILES AN HOUR?!

Three lanes does what? Provide turn lanes at every road? What else? Who the fuck cares about turn lanes (except maybe at the busiest intersections)? The third lane doesn't allow MORE traffic to get through, all it does is potentially REDUCE NOT REMOVE less than a third of the wrecks on that road, while completely destroying the character of the road and surrounding neighborhoods. That is not a solution.

Put in turn lanes at the largest intersections. ENFORCE the speed limits. ENFORCE other driving laws. But do not further cripple an already over-developed area of town by futher development. Fuckers!