I read a wire story a couple weeks ago, quoting law enforcement types from around the state.

They were talking about what their most pressing law enforcement problems were.

They seemed to reach a consensus - methamphetamine.

While I don't mean to diminish the impact of meth on society, I think law enforcement officials in Kosciusko County could answer differently.

I think the most pressing law enforcement problem around here is U.S. 30.

Of course, all of this was prompted by yet another fatal accident on U.S. 30 Sept. 8.

A 28-year-old man died when his car was struck broadside by a semi that ran a red light. The semi driver was blowing the horn, witnesses said.

It seems you take your life into your hands when you cross that highway around Warsaw and somehow, this seems unacceptable to me.

But what do we do?

Well, I would say everything. Let's do everything.

Right now, Warsaw cops are running overtime shifts of dedicated selective enforcement. They've put up "target enforcement" signs.

WPD has seven officers on days, eight on second shift and six on midnight.

I understand there are other things going on besides U.S. 30, so officers patrolling out there get called away.

I also understand budget limitations, but here's something to ponder. I would bet if you polled Warsaw residents, they would be willing to absorb the tax increase necessary to assign a couple officers to continuous U.S. 30 duty. At least during the hours of highest traffic volume.

I've always thought it would be really cool if Warsaw could gain the reputation across the state as the world's worst speed trap. (Maybe we could pay for the officers that way.)

Yeah, let's do that.

Next, we have to really make it hard on the people who do run red lights. Let's set the fines really high - like $300 or $400 or $500.

Yeah, let's do that.

Now, as far as making a dent with signage and the timing of lights and such, the Indiana Department of Transportation has to dance with us.

Warsaw officials have requested making the caution lights longer. They also have requested making the "all red" portion of the cycle longer. (That's when the lights are red in all directions at the end of each cycle.)

INDOT tells them that Warsaw's timing is within accepted standards.

So what?

We need our own standards. Their standards obviously aren't working. If their standards were working, there wouldn't be so much carnage out on U.S. 30.

I think we need to deluge our state lawmakers with letters. Tell them we won't vote for anybody who can't get INDOT to take a serious look at these timing issues.

Yeah, let's do that.

And while we're at it, we need to send letters to:

Carl T. Tuttle

Manager, Office of Traffic Engineering Highway Operations Div.

100N. Senate Ave.

IGCN Room 925

Indianapolis, IN 46204

E-mail [email protected]

Or go over his head to:

Thomas Sharp, Commissioner

INDOT Management Team

100 N. Senate Ave.

IGCN Room N755

Indianapolis, IN 46204

E-mail [email protected]

Yeah, let's do that.

And another thing.

In other states, they have this system that you've probably seen before.

It's called an advance warning flasher.

You're driving along and you see a flashing yellow light and a big sign that says "Prepare To Stop When Flashing."

They have them in Ohio and other states.

But INDOT won't put AWFs into service because "if the flashing beacon light bulb burns out, the motorist is not given the intended warning. With the 'Prepare To Stop When Flashing' sign, motorists tend to rely upon the sign flashing when the traffic signal is about to turn red or is red. In the absence of the flashing beacon, the motorists believe that they are clear to go through without slowing down or preparing to stop."

OK, depending on the speed limit, the AWF is at least a quarter mile before the intersection.

If the light's out, they're telling me drivers are suddenly going to disregard a red light a quarter mile later? That is counter intuitive.

And besides, based on that logic, INDOT couldn't use any signals with light bulbs.

There is limited data out there regarding the use of AWFs, but in 2002, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute in the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota did a study.

It found: "After analysis of the experimental data, the researchers concluded that advance warning flashers often improve stopping behavior at suitable intersections."

They also found that a small number of drivers actually speed up to try to clear the intersection.

And it found, "One result that emerged from the study was that under a speed limit of 50 mph, advance warning flashers reduced unsafe stops and red-light running, but at a speed limit of 65 mph the positive effect disappeared. This may be due to differences in decision making depending on how much time is available to make the decision."

So let's lower the speed limit and put in the AWFs.

Yeah, let's do that.

Again, start needling INDOT's Sharp and Tuttle.

Red light cameras? I'm not a big fan because they seem like Big Brother to me.

And there have been studies that show rear-end collisions increase at red light camera intersections because people slam on their brakes more often. But those accidents generally aren't as serious as the red light running accidents.

Also, some cities also have run into funding problems.

Nonetheless, and despite my misgivings, if the cameras avert just one accident - save one life - they're worth it.

So let's do that, too.

Let's just do everything.

Let's stop the death and destruction on U.S. 30.

An addendum.

I called INDOT earlier this week. I wrote the column Thursday based on information gleaned from previous e-mails and the INDOT Web site.

INDOT official Will Wingfield - who was in an all-day meeting Thursday - returned my call Friday afternoon with additional information.

He confirmed that requests for longer "all red" and caution cycles were resisted by INDOT because those timings and policies are based on standards set by the Institutes of Traffic Engineers. He said the policies are based on factors like speed limits, width of the intersection, and slope of the road.

He said INDOT is highly aware of our situation and has taken several steps in attempts to make U.S. 30 through Warsaw safer, including the target enforcement zone, additional signage and increased state police presence.

He also noted the two western-most intersections are equipped with traffic actuated caution lights. Those lights won't turn yellow if there is a vehicle within five seconds of the intersection.

I get the sense that INDOT - working within its policies, standards, guidelines and the laws of the state - has done all it can do.

Problem is, it doesn't seem to be enough. [[In-content Ad]]