Making roads a little safer

If I've become a broken record this summer on the idea of placing traffic cameras on the Las Vegas Beltway, please forgive. But I am convinced we must try something new to lower our accident and traffic fatality rate in Las Vegas.

So I'm not afraid to use this column to shout it more than once. What's a newspaper for, if not advocating righteous change?

Most of the time, newspapers act something like a watchman aboard ship, noting land and vessels on the horizon and marking the routine that affects the good of the crew -- wind speed, sunrise, sunset and hourly temperatures. But newspapers are more than that. If a man falls overboard, we sound the alarm. If the ship fails to turn about, we sound the alarm again ... and again. A watchman shouldn't just draw attention to a man overboard and then watch him drown. The point of the alarm is to actually do something to save the man.

I believe that's what I'm doing on this issue.

I hope this fall we as a community can make traffic safety improvement a goal. It's a worthy endeavor -- and citizens, along with our leaders, need to climb aboard. Unless we're willing to let our friends, neighbors, children and visitors get picked off one wreck at a time on our unsafe highways, we must find ways to change our "anything goes" roadway culture and replace it with order.

So for the fourth time in six weeks, I feel compelled to argue that traffic cameras would be one of the more promising answers to this problem. I'd like to see them installed on every mile of the Las Vegas Beltway. If, after a couple of years, they result in a reduction in accidents and fatalities, we can install them along all busy roadways in Las Vegas and Nevada. If you're with me, please write me (even if you have already written) at the e-mail address below or at the Review-Journal (P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125).

Gov. Jim Gibbons on more than one occasion has invited my wife, Christina, and me up to Carson City to visit him in his new digs. I'll take him up on that invite and bring along with me all of your letters. Maybe we can get him on board and find a way to make traffic cameras happen sooner rather than later.

So if you must call me a broken record, then just remember what the broken record says: Traffic cameras save lives. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. I've been overwhelmed with e-mail and phone calls in support of my position.

On this long weekend, allow me to share with you a small sample from my e-mail in-box. Hear what the people say. And, Gov. Jim, save me an afternoon this fall to come-a-visitin'. I'll probably have few boxes of letters with me.

Peter -- "I read your article and could not be more in agreement. I can assure you it is not only on the 215. I travel on Owens near Hollywood Boulevard to Vegas Drive and Rancho every day to work. This morning I was going 45 mph in a 45 mph zone and a school bus passed me like I was stopped."

Bill and Sherry -- "We agree whole-heartedly with your suggestion of cameras on the Beltway. If the cameras are an invasion of privacy, then maybe the police should not be watching either. Isn't that the same twisted logic?"

Dave -- "I read your article and I liked it. On any day or time this town has a large portion of spoiled adult children who ignore the driving laws."

Dick -- "I drive at about 60-65 mph, and when there are three lanes, I stay in the middle lane. Cars pass me on my left and they pass me on the right! Surely there must be technology that would allow installation of cameras to read license plates of speeding cards. It would pay for itself in the first month."

David -- "Your column on the H2H (short for "Highway to Hell" or the Las Vegas Beltway) struck a chord with me. If you're collecting horror stories about the roadway, here's a personal experience: I was taking my wife to the airport, driving in the right lane at 5 mph over the limit. A glance at the rear view mirror made my blood freeze. Bearing down upon us at an incredible speed was a full-size, white Ford pickup! I didn't know whether to utter a Hail Mary or yell out the name of her only son, when the truck miraculously avoided collision by screaming to the right of us. Spewing rocks and nearly overturning on the road's margin, he cut in front of our car, and picked up speed, weaving through the traffic ahead. It was only then that I noticed the other truck, racing behind the Ford, trying to catch up in a race through traffic. It nicked 10 years off my life span."

Margot - "Traffic cameras -- what a great idea! This is happening successfully in Europe. My sister in Germany told me they have cameras that 'flash' you -- as they call it -- when you speed, and some cameras take your picture coming or going i.e. front plate or back plate. I am glad that you are addressing this problem. Thank you."

RJSLVN - "Excellent idea. (But), if cameras aren't allowed, why not just hire cops to give tickets? What's wrong with that?"

GERTZNLV - "Your crusade to have cameras installed on the Beltway is one I strongly agree with. Even the Autobahn in Germany has cameras. Keep up the pressure."

Gerald -- "I totally agree with you about traffic cameras. My wife and I made a recent visit to Australia. There they have cameras everywhere monitoring traffic. Guess what? It appears that almost everyone drives in a safe manner, obeying speed limits and stopping at stop signs and red lights. What can we do to convince the powers that be to do something, or is this insanity going to continue?"

Jeff -- "Amen. I'm tired of being almost killed by people doing 90 mph. I moved here 15 months ago, and it just seemed there were an awful lot of traffic fatalities here. So, I researched the county I came from in New Jersey (not an easy state to drive in, either) and found that although my county in Jersey had double the population of Clark County, Clark County had four times the traffic fatalities. The 'Wild Wild West' is a most appropriate term for driving out here. Have a good day."

Gene & Sandy -- "We agree with you 100 percent that camera technology would be a good start in stopping some of the outrageous driving. Also, this could be a great way to fund road construction with the fines received. Perhaps the Beltway and other construction projects could be completed sooner with the additional revenue received. We're with you, Sherman."

Elaine - "I'm with you all the way."

Jerry -- "Thanks for the recent column on the Beltway. I agree 100 percent with your view. The drivers are terrible. Only rigid enforcement will ever reduce the violations. It seems we cannot afford enough law enforcement. Let us use the technology available."

Janet -- "Yes! Please keep promoting this intelligent solution to an otherwise frightening experience that need not be. Having moved here a year ago from Chicago, my only complaint has been the speed and recklessness of drivers. Several other colleagues note the same thing and we are all relieved it's not 'just me.' Cameras can augment the police patrol. Who knows? Maybe car insurance will improve over time, too?"

Linda -- "I, too, drive that stretch and have been rear-ended at one of the lights. Idiots abound! I like the idea of cameras. If it is considered a 'public' area, then the public has a right to be protected from the idiots, and cameras are a good way to do it."

Sherman Frederick is publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and president of Stephens Media. Readers may write him at sfrederick@reviewjournal.com.