Editor, Times-Union: This is in response to Deb Miller's letter of 2/18/00. It sounds like she has good sense when it comes to dealing with the traffic lights on Route 30. There is nothing wrong with the current speed limits on Route 30. A fellow wrote that he and his family enjoy the action at the lights. He also suggested IDOT install blinking advance warning lights such as those used in Ohio. I agree, knowing the caliber of a lot of the drivers we have out there. The advance warning lights give a driver time to get his vehicle down to a well-controlled stop. It appears IDOT has fixed the times it takes cross traffic to trip some of these lights to shorter times during the rush hours and have longer times during other hours. The occasional traveler passing through on 30 can get in trouble playing the trip time of these lights.
I wish more of you who don't know what it's like to drive a big truck could do so. Spend a week going cross country, even just through Indiana, and see what it takes to deal with automobile drivers (and some truck drivers, I'm sorry to say). There's some who don't belong in a big truck or car.
The way I see it: 1) Get IDOT to these warning lights. The cost is worth it and they need something to do when it gets nice out anyway.
2) Better traffic enforcement (low profile, unmarked cars) to target speeders and dangerous drivers who don't use turn signals, encroach on lanes and stop before turning right on red lights.
3) Make the red light last a second or two longer after the cross traffic gets their red light. Keep it red in both directions for a couple of seconds.
Now the rest of us have to do our part. Keep our eyes open and ease up. Don't be in such a hurry. We all have someplace to go and someone we'd like to see.
Yes, I drive a big truck and can hardly wait to retire.
In closing, Deb, if you're reading this, watch out for those cars and pickups around you. Judging from the reports of all the crashes around here I'm apprehensive about going out there. You read about them and see the pictures in this very paper. The car and pickup crashes outnumber the big truck crashes by a large margin, very large.
Wayne Miller, professional driver Warsaw
Angels Among Us
Editor, Times-Union: There are angels among us and we never know when they will appear. Sunday Feb. 20, I had an accident on CR 675E off Armstrong Road due to the slush on the road.
A young man and woman stopped to assist me, and made all the necessary calls, even ones I asked them to make. I have no way of knowing who you were, but a very heartfelt thank you to you both for your quick response. Thank you Ernie and Brad for your response in knowing who to contact. Thank you North Webster EMS for the great care given and the call a couple of days later to see how I was.
Even though great damage was done to my son's truck, he was an angel himself, just thankful I was not seriously hurt, and I know for sure the good Lord and my guardian angel were looking over me. Again, thank you to each one and may God bless all involved.
