Dear Mahatma: In re your recent column on speeding on U.S. 67-167 where it merges with Interstate 40, I believe the real speed starts in Cabot and beyond. On Sundays we drive to church from Sherwood to North Little Rock. My wife drives 65 mph, even though the speed limit is 60, for fear she will be rear-ended. -- GG
Dear GG: The Mahatma recently drove to Prescott on Interstate 30. He recently drove U.S. 67 deep into northeast Arkansas. He drives across the I-30 bridge on a regular basis. It matters naught which highway, drivers exceed the speed limit, sometimes grossly.
Speeders are like fire ants. Stomp a few here, and more emerge over there.
Don't be shy about asking for speed enforcement. Call Troop A of the Arkansas State Police. Capt. Alex Finger is the commander. Number is (501) 618-8282. Ask for enforcement of your particular stretch of highway. Then -- look out.
Dear Mahatma: I work at the Little Rock Veterans Administration Hospital. When leaving work there are two right-turn lanes off Seventh Street turning onto Cedar Street. They could use repainting for out-of-towners or any driver who doesn't get that both lanes turn right. Plus the stoplights should be timed accordingly. That's a messed-up intersection for sure. -- Kerry
Dear Kerry: We shortened your email, rich in detail about what you call a messed-up intersection. A lot goes on there, what with access to Interstate 630.
You must have some clout, because when we sent your observations to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, the chief engineer of District 6, Mark Headley, took a look.
The Highway Department has limited jurisdiction. The agency will send out a sign crew to refresh all the arrows and other markings on its right of way on Pine and Cedar. This should be done in the next few weeks.
As for Seventh Street markings and the traffic lights, they are under the jurisdiction of the city of Little Rock. Headley has alerted the city traffic guys.
Update! The city has issued a work order to reinstall all markings on Seventh between Cedar and Jack Stephens Drive, plus additional signage.
Dear Mahatma: How do you stand on the debate of what to call a collision or wreck? Is the word "accident" acceptable? -- Miss Mustang
Dear Miss: We are all endowed with certain inalienable rights, including the right to call a traffic mishap whatever we want -- accident, wreck, collision, bad day.
Seriously, we consulted five sources. Four had to do with written usage of the English language. American language, too. None of them made a distinction.
What about the best-seller of some years ago, Tom Vanderbilt's Traffic, required reading for anyone interested in how people move from place to place in motor vehicles? Nope. No reference that we could find to describe the difference between a wreck, collision or accident.
Mahatma@arkansasonline.com
Metro on 09/24/2016