To the editor:

We should all welcome the contribution of R. and S. Pancoast found in the Opinion Page of the April 30th Barrington Times. It contributes some of the DATA which we should all seek. 

What we are told is that the existing NHTSA Data presented informs us that there were 52 incident deaths from non school vehicle school zone injuries over a period of the 9 years surveyed. Critically, we are not told of how this particular Data relates to the subject of vehicular speed which is the focus of the current discussion regarding speed cameras. Nor are we informed about differences in density of traffic, adjacent buildings or other relevant factors.

While the death of every child is lamentable, wouldn’t the most appropriate association be the facts of each case rather than well intended speculation as to speed being the cause? If related what were the speeds? If speed was involved what degree of speed limitation might be “appropriately” effective in school zones per se as shown by Data rather than generically presumed.

We can all agree that safety should be the focus. Attempts at remedies should look to DATA driven analysis rather than well intended speculation.

Are there not less draconian measures than the administrative bureaucracy of speed cameras to assist in limiting any related proven causal or associated factors?

For example, what are variations in speeds recorded in different school locations vs. incidents? Does/could signage have a beneficial effect? Is there a type of signage that is more effective than others? Might that vary by location and by times of speed limitation.

How is “effective” defined?

Please understand my concern if you don’t agree that the employment of speed cameras, without a complete exploration of alternatives with emphasis on documented causal factors, represents an excessively heavy hand of government.

Lawrence P. Bowen, MD

Barrington