Commentaries

July 29, 2008

 Commentaries is where Minnesota Public Radio welcomes your thoughtful opinion about current events and issues. Commentaries are like letters to the editor. To be considered for publication, your commentary should be issue-related, clearly written, and follow our Terms of Use. New insights into ongoing topics are especially welcome. Not all commentaries received are published. For topical interaction with others, visit the discussion groups.

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Rural road safety

Living in Central Minnesota in rural Milaca we have had two people from our family air lifted because of near fatal accidents. [MPR News: U of M website maps our most dangerous roads]

In 2000, our son was ejected from his car south of Princeton on 169 onto Catlin Lake, on the curve where the road sinks in and isn't banked correctly. Black ice in January was a contributing factor.

I was airlifted from Onamia, after being broadsided at highway speeds just outside of Waukon at 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. [I was hit] by a drunk, who ran away from the scene and was never charged with the felony committed. I might add he was not a Native American, but a white man.

We both beat the odds, but what I see as part of the problem: roads that are not taken care of in winter, and people who habitually run stop signs out here - we see it all the time on the back roads. We also have farmers on the roads with tractors all hours of the day, and drivers who are well over the speed limits, which makes it more hazards for farmers and others.

We hear the hospital helicopter fly over our home almost daily, mostly flying towards Hwy 25 and Hwy 23 towards Foley or to Cross Lake. Many of the accidents are because people driving up from the cities get into accidents. So even though half of the accidents occur in the rural area, I would like to see statistics of where the people are from who get into them, how many of those killed are from the cities or are tourists here for a visit, or the elderly home from the south for the summer.

Bigger stop signs would help. Some of the stop signs on side roads that intercept with highways are old, faded and small.

Laurel Resman
Milaca, Minn.


Extra lanes on I-94 are dangerous

I am a resident of Saint Paul who drives the section of Interstate 94 between Highway 280 and downtown Minneapolis every day. [MPR News: MnDOT considers keeping extra lanes on I-94]

I have noticed that the freeway has become much more harrowing experience since the new lanes have been added. The result of the extra lanes is that now, when a car stalls on the freeway (something that happens everyday) there is no place for the car to pull over. This is particularly dangerous in the area between Hwy. 280 and Huron - a curvy section of freeway with limited forward visibility. I have experienced several instances of rounding a curve to suddenly find a car stalled in the lane in front of me.

I fear that one of these times I (or a person in front of me) will not brake fast enough, and a disastrous collision pile-up will occur. MNDot has created a potential deathtrap on the 94 corridor, and I worry every day that I drive on this road.

Adam Backstrom
Saint Paul, Minn.


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