Speeding. Tailgating. Texting. Road rage.
You see plenty of harmful issues on Massachusetts roadways lately, however you need to know one factor you don’t often see?
Cops.
Where are all of the police?
More than 400 folks died on Bay State roads final 12 months — a 19% spike from 2020 — and the variety of deaths this 12 months is on tempo to be even greater.
It’s an pointless tragedy any time somebody dies on the roads, and it’s turning into an all-too-common statistic. Speed and aggressive driving are actually killing multiple individual a day on this state.
And sure, we’re responsible. State information present {that a} rising variety of motorists in Massachusetts drive recklessly and fail to put on seat belts.
Plus, the legalization of pot has triggered a spike in motorists driving impaired.
But police have an vital function in stopping freeway tragedies, whether or not it’s from simply patrolling the roads or stopping or arresting those that break the regulation.
And anecdotal proof from drivers signifies that there appear to be fewer seen police on the roads.
Commute any day subsequent week, and also you’ll discover motorists driving greater than 90 mph, weaving out and in of lanes, driving the breakdown lane and tailgating at dangerously shut distances. Many folks apparently understand or imagine they gained’t get caught. Especially for the reason that pandemic, dashing has shot up and police have clocked drivers going over 100 mph in some circumstances.
It’s a modern-day model of the Wild, Wild West and the sheriff is out of city.
Are police intentionally standing down, stopping fewer drivers, or reducing again on patrols?
To be truthful, you couldn’t blame cops for trying the opposite approach at speeders and reckless drivers. It’s by no means been extra harmful to be a police officer. The anti-law enforcement perspective on this nation has these charged with defending us and implementing the legal guidelines on edge.
On the roads, pulling over motorists even for dashing has dangers. There isn’t any such factor as a routine visitors cease.
But one thing must be finished to cease the carnage and worry that’s overtaking our roads.
It’s not simply police that have to step up enforcement. Courts and judges have to be extra strict in cracking down on these charged with motorized vehicle offenses.
Right now, reckless operation of a motorized vehicle is a misdemeanor with only a necessary 60-day license suspension. That’s a joke. With the rise in deaths and reckless driving, the penalties for driving offenses have to preserve as much as be a deterrent.
And the Registry of Motor Vehicles must get off its bloated butt and begin suspending drivers and holding them off the roads for longer durations.
State transportation officers name the rise in highway fatalities troublesome.
But the place is Gov. Charlie Baker? Or Boston Mayor Michelle Wu? The pace restrict of 25 mph on metropolis roads is a joke. No one goes solely 25 mph. Neighbors have even taken issues into their very own fingers to place up indicators to encourage motorists to decelerate.
It’s not working. The epidemic of dashing, highway rage and reckless driving is actual.
Politicians have to preserve the warmth up on police and the courts to take enforcement of visitors offenses extra severely. Just encouraging folks to put on seat belts isn’t sufficient.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”