It's a dangerous intersection

Dear editor:

I would like to address the issue at the crossing of Hwy 67, onto Air Base Road.

On Dec. 18, 2014, there was a horrific car wreck that could have, and probably should have, been avoided.

I have been on both sides of the traffic, coming and going to the airbase, and also coming and going Grand View to Mountain Home, passing over part of Air Base Road to get to the other side. This was not the first accident at that crossing that I have witnessed and find it both tragic and unsettling that they keep occurring.

There is a sign posted before the curve and ultimate intersection, that the cautioned speed limit is 45 mph, yet people driving toward the airbase pass me doing 70-80 mph. It should be noted that all drivers should drive defensively; watching what is happening up ahead and not just the car in front of you; this will allow you to drive safely.

I have seen persons coming from Hwy 67 pulling out with very little time before cars going toward the airbase speed by; on icy roads, it's even worse. Horns honk, drivers flip each other off, and road rage ensues.

The other thing that makes this a dangerous intersection is the cars coming from Hwy 67 pull into the allotted portion of Air Base Road, yet the drivers coming from the airbase don't or won't move over to allow the mergers to become part of the flow of traffic. I understand that sometimes the two rows of cars coming from the airbase have the right of way, what frustrates me is when it's only one car and they stay in the passing lane and won't move over to the empty space beside them when no one else is on the road with them.

A sign clearly marks merging traffic and singular drivers in the passing lane should have the courtesy to the merging traffic entrance onto the highway. I haven't been witness to accidents happening here, but I have had some close calls when trying to merge with only one car on that portion of the road with me.

I stop at the intersection and look down the road (both ways), towards the airbase, and gauge if I will be able to merge safely with other vehicles. I do have to say 9 out of 10 times, the cars that seem to be troublesome are vehicles with out-of-state license plates.

I can see a set of lights being installed on Air Base Road in the coming years if people don't slow down and look at what's going on around them.

Everyone, just be more aware of your surroundings so we don't have more tragedies.

I also have a problem with cars not moving to the passing lane when a car or bicyclist is on the right side of the road. It can't be helped if someone is on your left side, but many, many vehicles have passed next to the bicyclist, when they had no one in the passing lane beside them. One small rock on the road with a tire passing over it could have a deadly effect and that's not something I want to see in my daily commute.

-- Carol Anselment