Editorial: Sixty-five would be the right call

The Jefferson County Commissioners were recently sent an analysis from the Montana Department of Transportation in regards to the possibility of lowering the speed limit for a majority of Homestake Pass.

The analysis states that for a ten-mile stretch of the pass, it is recommended the speed limit should be lowered in both east and westbound lanes from 75 to 65 miles per hour.

This is a stretch of highway that is used often by local residents and it can be downright nasty during inclement weather.

It can be sunny in Whitehall, and a whole nother world on top of the pass.

Taking a serious look at lowering the speed limit on the pass is the right move by the Montana Department of Transportation. Ten miles an hour over a ten-mile stretch is not too much to ask of anyone going over the pass.

It’s often times not the local driver who will cause an accident. It’s somebody from out of the area unfamiliar with the pass that goes speeding by. Slowing them down even 10 miles an hour won’t hurt anything. Safety should be the most important thing, not if it takes somebody a few minutes longer to arrive.

There will always be idiots, who blatantly disobey speed limits and drive too fast for conditions, and there is really nothing that can be done about them, but it’s always best to think safety first.

Lowering the speed ten miles an hour is the right call.

The analysis also looks the possibly of re-examining a four mile stretch that has a 25 mile per hour limit for semis.

I make the drive over the pass quite a bit, but I can honestly say I haven’t made it the numerous times many locals have. What I can say is that when one speed limit is 65 or 75, and another 25 for semis, this can cause a whole other set of problems for drivers going up or down the pass.

The Ledger will keep an eye on this issue and keep our readers informed.

JHS