Still a speedway

Going to Downtown the other day, I decided to take the beltway around Memphis, rather than the longer, but safer, route over city streets. I figured that at 1 p.m. I could avoid the afternoon drive-time madness. Not so.

Not having driven interstates 240 and 55 for some time, I forgot just how risky these routes can be at any time. I set my cruise control at the speed limit and used the center or right lanes so as to not block traffic — a necessary maneuver, since virtually every car on the interstate found it necessary to pass me.

As these cars whizzed by, I was able to get a glance at some of the drivers. Young women were the slowest of the speeders. Some were staring into their telephones with one hand on the steering wheel. Men in pickup trucks were aggressive. They rode the bumper of any car in front of them until they moved over.

The most dangerous were short young men in very fast cars or SUVs with huge wheels and very low seats. It appears they see through the steering wheel as they weave through traffic at 80-plus mph.

In my 45-minute trip, I never saw one police car. That made me wonder: What if Memphis invested in undercover photo/video surveillance of speeders and reckless drivers, and made the fines for those infractions truly expensive — say, $250 for 5 mph over the limit, up to $1,000 for 25 mph over, plus loss of license. Photo/video records would show car, license plate and speed, and generate a ticket for their mailbox. Failure to appear and pay the fine would mean jail time — minimum 21 days.

I suspect that within six months, Memphis’ budget shortfall could be seriously attacked and driving the interstate around Memphis would be much safer.