I read Police Chief Willliam McMahon's "open" letter to the public (The Sun, July 15) about better driving. Very nice, but I really wasn't impressed. I'll tell you why.
I lived in Montgomery County for 15 years. Only had 1 point on my license since 1983. After 2001 (and 9/11), I couldn't get a job anywhere in the D.C. area because I didn't have a security clearance. So I went back home to New Jersey.
In June of 2004, I was hit by a drunken motorcyclist. He slammed into my car doing about 65 mph. He died about a week later. My mom was also hit by a "psycho" with no license, registration or insurance. Put her in the hospital and totaled her car. I knew after these two incidents that New Jersey was out of control. And then the governor almost got killed back in April.
Well, I've just come back to Maryland and I'm working in Columbia right off Snowden River Parkway. The speeding and tailgating on Route 1, Route 32, Route 175 and that entire region is ridiculous. One of Howard's officers was killed recently [doing speed enforcement on Route 32]. And there were two "horrific" accidents, specifically the one on Route 32 involving four vehicles.
Yet, I hardly ever see the Howard County police doing radar on any of the roads I mentioned. And you should drive on Route 1 in the morning when these "idiots" are going to work. It's like a war zone!
So my question to Chief McMahon: Where are your officers and why aren't they using radar every single day? That, more than a letter, will help people "drive better."
David Alston Columbia