Comments

I agree wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:23 AM:

" Driver's Ed should be mandatory. I also feel that that is only part of the problem. Knowledge is only one portion of it all. Morality plays a huge part. People have to want to obey the laws and be courteous. It seems that we live in an immoral community filled with people who only want to do what they want to do regardless of who it might hurt. Parents just aren't teaching their children to care about anyone else. It's sad to see society degrade like this. "




cottonwood wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:05 AM:

" Biggest driving problem in AK: There's no drivers education, the same inconsiderate morons that drive now are teaching their kids the same boneheaded habits. Drivers education should be mandantory, professionally presented. "




pk wrote on Jul 21, 2008 11:06 AM:

" For a road like this 55mph is to fast. We need more stop lights and reduce the speed limit. It will give people a chance to enter the highway and exit the highway without taking risking your life. It’s a left turn problem highway. "




Larry Wood wrote on Jul 20, 2008 5:34 AM:

" First, the speed limits are influenced by politics, not engineering. If the traffic engineers were allowed to do their jobs, upgrades at intersections, traffic signals, etc. would be done at the appropriate time, not to political whim in Juneau.
The reality is that any issues with our highways rest with our Legislature and governors. They are the folks who determine what gets done when.
Reducing the speed is not the issue. Letting traffic engineering dictate the need is.
Instead of emotional knee jerk, talk to DOT about the needs on the roadway. "




just another driver wrote on Jul 19, 2008 8:42 PM:

" "big bad alaskans"? i had to laugh when i read that...i find this statement completely irrelevant. it doesn't matter what speed they post on the highways, people will go as fast as they want to. you can still get into an accident at 45 mph. people make mistakes, they glance instead of really observe what is going on around them. not to mention the many distractions surrounding us at all times. however, instead of blaming these distractions, maybe we should all take our time and pay closer attention. quit finding other things to blame. "




JM wrote on Jul 19, 2008 5:14 PM:

" If we had three jet liner crashes every week killing everyone on board - almost four thousand deaths every month - there would be a massive public outcry and airliners would be grounded until the problem was fixed. Why do we accept that kind of death toll on our highways without comment? "




reality not knee-jerk wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:04 PM:

" prove to me that reducing the speed will eliminate accidents. how about this: try following the rules of the road- for instance, not pulling out in front of a truck coming 55 mph at you. that is a good start. "




AKN wrote on Jul 18, 2008 2:47 AM:

" I agree with ps driver, slowing down is not going to solve the problem. People have to get their heads out of their butts and pay attention. I was sitting at the light at PWH and Seward Meridian and I look in the rear view mirror and here's this guy hitting the brakes and just about rear ended me. How can you miss a bunch of vehicles stopped with tail lights on. There was a lady that was rear ended and pushed into the oncoming lane awhile back. People Pay Attention and keep your eyes on the road! "




I agree wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:53 PM:

" I'd love to see a 45 speed limit on PWH. How rude of people to think that they deserve to zoom wherever they go with total digregard to public safety. It's just as bad as someone cutting in line ahead of you at the bank. Who do they think they are? Then they wonder why they get nasty looks by other drivers. What ever happened to social civility? Or is that something alaskans feel they don't have to adhere to because they're big bad alaskans. Obey the laws, be courteous/patient and prove me wrong. "




daily PS Driver wrote on Jul 16, 2008 8:20 PM:

" I disagree, it has everything to do with inexperienced drivers and people not paying attention. I am very sorry for the tragic deaths of so many on the PW Hwy but reducing the speed limit will not prevent accidents but cause more with people taking more risks to get around slower moving vehicles. I agree we need to make the PW Hwy a four lane because of the amount of traffic. "




PAL wrote on Jul 16, 2008 2:31 AM:

" This was a tragic accident. Nothing to do with a cell phone or inexperienced driver.

Why can't people be more sensitive when knowing that family members and friends might be reading these posts? "




misplaced alaskan wrote on Jul 15, 2008 10:19 AM:

" why dont all you people from down south go the 55 it says and the people trying to do THE SPEED limit wont have to slam on their brakes to not hit you. and stay off the stupid cell phone. its the people not paying attention to what they should be paying attention too, or avoid that road all together its not hard there are backroads everywhere "




Lets Remember wrote on Jul 15, 2008 7:58 AM:

" This tragic accident was caused by a teenager's inexperience and inattention, not a speeding truck. We need to start teaching our kids to pay attention, put the cell phone down and watch what's going on. The best way we can do that is by demonstrating that by our own driving. That means we need to start hanging up our phones and paying attention too. Driving under the speed limit can actually be quite dangerous, because it causes people to try to take chances to get around you to go the legal limit. "




Disgusted wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:44 PM:

" situation that is someone's word against another person's word. Won't solve a thing. A t-bone accident or a head on at 45 mph is much more likely to have survivors that one at 55 which for many drivers means 60 mph. So you'd have to leave 10 minutes earlier. Doesn't human life mean anything to people any more? Or are we so jaded that the carnage is merely a footnote with a sarcastic comment that "oh they should have been paying attention"? "




Disgusted wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:37 PM:

" Shame on you people. There have been so many people killed on that Hwy including my daughter-in-law that would be still alive today if the speed was reduced to 45. That road is driven by new drivers, inexperienced drivers, even good drivers on cells or fiddling with the radio or eating or yelling at the kids, or thinking about what to make for dinner when they get home.
There are so many possible distractions. Then you have Wasilla Patrol asking everybody to tell him all the "BAD" drivers. That's a he said/she said situation (continued) "




re Most people speed wrote on Jul 14, 2008 7:57 PM:

" "'Try driving the speed limit from Anchorage to Wasilla some time. Within minutes you will be all by yourself. And then a "school" of speeders will zoom past you, and you will be all by yourself again. Repeats often.'

Doesn't bother me a bit. I like being by myself instead of in a pack. And I've increased my gas mileage 10% since I started doing 60 mph on the Glenn. "




Julie wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:18 AM:

" For those who don't value the human lives that could be saved with a reduced speed limit, consider this: a lowered speed limit would also save them gas and therefore, money. "




Ive seen it all wrote on Jul 13, 2008 12:19 AM:

" I'll tell you the #1 reason for motor vehicle accidents here in the valley. Its one driver not paying attention and another driver going to fast. They cross paths and thats all it takes. It does not matter if the road is posted at 5 mph in a parking lot or 65mph on the Parks. This is the combination 80% to 90% of the time that causes accidents. How do I know this? Because I am the guy that has been patrolling the valley streets for the last 17 years. I have seen more then my share of accidents. "




Hey wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:45 PM:

" Let's emminent domain some of the properties along the Palmer/Wasilla and put in more lanes for the increased traffic. They thought this would work in Wasilla.
Really folks, if you follow the laws and limits accidents will be reduced greatly. Unfortunately most will forget (or, are in a learning phase). And after awhile they will continue poor driving habits and it will happen again. Right now it's in our head and hearts but ...so sad...this will pass for most. We must educate and retrain or history will keep repeating the same. "




AK Granny continued wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:51 PM:

" They must give their complete attention to the task at hand. Driving. We all must do this.
A lot of people still think it is a civil right for us to drive. It is not. It is a privilege and should not be taken lightly or abused.
This was an unexpected and undesirable event.
I hope it makes us all re-evaluate our driving habits.
Thank-you for reading my comment. "




AK Granny wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:23 PM:

" First and foremost, my condolences to the Olson's at the loss of your daughter. Second, my condolences to Mr. Cravy too. I am sure you feel a great loss also.
Ms. Krick,I have looked up in my American Heritage Dictionary, published in 1983, for the definition of the word "highway". It states: "A main public road". This has no import on this crash.
The speed limit is not the issue. The size of the vehicles are not the issue. The issue is, regardless of who the licensed driver is behind the wheel, they must give their complete (continued) "




Most people speed.... wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:05 PM:

" Try driving the speed limit from Anchorage to Wasilla some time. Within minutes you will be all by yourself. And then a "school" of speeders will zoom past you, and you will be all by yourself again. Repeats often. Near Wasilla as you approach Sears,the posted speed limit drops from 65 to 55 and then from 55 to 45. A lot people just continue to that first stop/go light at about 65 to 75 mph. Someone could give tickets all day in that location, but very seldom do you see enforcement. "




Wasilla Patrol wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:01 PM:

" Posted speed limits do not cause accidents, people not paying attention, not leaving a safe distance between themselves and other cars, and not wearing seatbelts cause accidents and injuries. Please learn to be defensive drivers, and plan for what others may do- even if it is not expected. Report dangerous drivers- everyone has a cell phone- Log onto the patrol and I will post your reports of bad drivers- get the plate!! Email me and you will get the link to the website! "




safe driver wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:18 AM:

" I'm glad the stoplights were put up recently. Let's see if it helps.

Regarding speed, I agree with Kimberly. There are simply too many vehicles stopping to make left turns and turning on to PWH most of the time to go over 40-45 mph anyway. Just reduce the speed limit and see if the number ofaccidents goes down. "




allen wrote on Jul 11, 2008 6:39 PM:

" I sometimes get a little frustrated at slow drivers on the PWH. However, I have to exit my subdivision onto PWH fairly often. Very difficult when folks are coming at you at anywhere from 55 to 65 mph. So I try to take that into consideration and moderate my speed. As our traffic increases we all need to follow the good old golden rule. Leave yourself a little more time. "




Fast Driver wrote on Jul 11, 2008 12:33 PM:

" Is this the same Kimberly Krick who has a speeding ticket for 10-19 mph over the posted limit? "




Commuter wrote on Jul 10, 2008 10:51 PM:

" I've been driving the PWH back & forth to work for years, and it's almost impossible to hit 55. Most drive very slow except during the night.
There's too much congestion, and forcing everyone to drive like a grandma will make the drive painfully slow. It's people not paying attention that cause accidents, not a 10 mph difference in speed. "