To the Editor:

The recent accident involving a state trooper and the elderly couple near Balsam was a tragedy for all involved, and many prayers for the trooper and families of those who lost their loved ones. The trooper was doing his job, but excessive speed is what killed this couple.

I live here and have witnessed personally the state police continually use speeds over 100 mph almost every month in this particular spot. This mile and half of highway is known as where the state troopers hang out and write tickets. I have called months ago and complained after taking my boys to school and having a trooper blow by me doing at least 120-30 mph. I was about to change lanes, and if I had not been paying close attention that day then this could have been me.

I know that emotions are high right now but a serious discussion needs to take place. A speeding ticket — which is 90 percent plus of these occurrences — should never justify anyone traveling at these speeds, including law enforcement. We do live in the mountains everyone has limited sight traveling and especially at those speeds, whether law enforcement or not.

Living here in the mountains we have curves — and add to that a highway with roads and driveways that are directly off the highway — that spell disaster. Anyone of us who has turned around in the turning lanes — as what happened in this particular accident — we know it can be dangerous.

I have to cross this same highway in a similar fashion everyday from a turning lane to come to my house and, yes, it is dangerous. I support our law enforcement and am thankful for them, but this could happen to anyone of us. This kind of speed kills. Just because the lights and siren are on when doing 100-plus you can not count on the other drivers to know you are there, especially when there is other traffic on a busy highway or road.

This is a very sad story but we all can learn from this and hopefully our law enforcement will change this practice before another life is taken. Hopefully, the N.C. Highway Patrol will rethink high-speed enforcements on busy highways or roads, especially this one. The point of speed limitations is to protect the public, and high-speed enforcement is doing the opposite. Something must change before it takes another life.”

Joseph Thomas

Haywood County