State's highway speed formula makes no sense

So there's been another serious accident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and River Road (just past the bridge over the Flathead River).

I just had a long phone conversation with a nice man at the Montana Department of Transportation in Kalispell. He told me about the engineering studies they do to determine speed limits.

Apparently, speed limits are based on how fast people go at a particular spot. Imagine that. Does that mean that if we all start screaming around the valley at about 100 mph, they'll raise the speed limit to 100? Imagine how fast we could get where we want to go.

No, I don't think so. We would have a lot of wrecks, and a bunch of people would get killed. Is that what has to happen before the state lowers the speed limit at the bridge just east of Columbia Falls from 70 mph to something more reasonable, like maybe 55?

Those of us who must use that intersection every day don't go 70. Ah, but those not familiar with the area? When they see that 70 mph sign, they have no idea they are accelerating toward a busy intersection.

I know there have been numerous accidents at this intersection. I know people have been seriously hurt. I don't know whether anyone has been killed there — no white crosses, so I guess not.

How many white crosses does it take for the highway department to decide an intersection is dangerous, and that maybe 70 mph is too fast?

Lynne Vanhorn is a resident of Columbia Falls.