Editorial: For the sake of safety

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

The July 28 death of an off-duty Metro Police officer, who was hit by a truck while he was riding his bicycle on State Route 159 through the Red Rock National Recreation Area, has led to meetings about potential changes for the accident-filled, two-lane road. Representatives of the state Transportation Department, local governments, police departments and bicycle groups are among those attending the meetings. Also being discussed is State Route 160, which intersects with 159 and leads to Interstate 15 going east and Pahrump going west.

The safety issues are mostly due to heavier traffic brought by growth, the speed of that traffic and the increasing amount of big trucks on the road alongside Red Rock. We are glad the meetings are taking place and look forward to hearing proposed solutions. In the end, we hope that 160 can be widened in its most congested areas. As for 159, solutions there should include lower speed limits, more visible signs that urge caution around bicyclists, wider and better marked bicycle lanes and a law banning large trucks. And if there was such a thing as a force field that would change drivers' reckless behavior once they passed through it, we'd be for that, too.