Auto safety a matter of common sense

I did not need the reminder from the Washington State Patrol last week about the danger of leaving children in hot cars during the summer.

Who doesn't know that? Right?

A couple of days later I learned a young father in western Washington didn't. He was charged with child endangerment.

His excuse was that the child was alone in the car just 10 minutes. In last week's heat, I started to suffer after just one minute - outside of the car.

You don't need all of the statistics the state patrol puts out. If you have half a brain, you know what danger is. And if you don't have half a brain, you shouldn't drive with kids in the car.

In another traffic safety matter, I came upon the car-truck accident at the entrance to Desert Aire last Friday at about the time it turned from rescue to clean-up.

I had no idea what had happened, but the scene made me shudder. The truck was overturned, with apple bins strewn all over the place. Later, when I heard from the state patrol that no one had been hurt, I felt giant relief.

The crash reminded me once again how dangerous Highway 243 is at the Desert Aire and Mattawa entrances. I can tell you my moments at those stops are anxiety-filled. Even after entering the roadway, I check my rearview mirror just in case I missed something.

Part of the anxiety comes from the speed of the highway. When you are at an absolute standstill waiting, a truck at 60 miles per hour sounds like rolling thunder. It shakes the road, the air and you.

That need not be. Speed limits don't mean you have to drive fast.

I drive 60 most of the time on freeways, and I find myself fairly well keeping up with 70 mph guys who dart from lane to lane looking for moments to pass.

I had to laugh about such a driver two weeks ago coming down from Rye Grass to Vantage. He passed me going about 80, then darted from lane to lane until he was stuck behind a truck.

He finally broke fee and sped down the hill. About a minute later I passed him as he chatted on the side of the road with a trooper. I got to Mattawa on time. I wonder how he did.

People can drive more slowly if they wish. I wish truckers especially would at Mattawa and Desert Aire. All they would lose is a couple of minutes.

Knowing that's a pipe dream, I am suggesting the two communities discuss forced slow-downs of highway traffic with the department of transportation. Thirty-five (35) MPH is fast enough for a mile at each entrance.

A slower highway speed might even be a better idea than the roundabout the state is planning at Mattawa. You wouldn't slow trucks as much from their appointed rounds.

With frequent enforcement from the state patrol, the sheriff and Mattawa Police this could work. It wouldn't cost more than a few dollars, and it could be done immediately.