Publisher’s Note: It seemed as soon as the barrels were put into place along Interstate 70 in Ohio County, speeding became a bigger issue than ever before, according to Sheriff Tom Howard. Sure, the 70 mph limit was exceeded before, and violations had been issued to motorists for traveling as fast as 110 mph, but the frequency, especially along 2-mile Hill, became a safety issue and necessitated an enhanced law enforcement presence.
So, the question was asked. How many of the drivers cited for breaking Interstate 70’s posted 45 mph speed limit possessed valid operator’s licenses? The answer? Alarming.
At least 30 percent of the motorists traveling east and west along the 14 miles of Interstate 70 in Ohio County have licenses that have been revoked for a number of different vehicular violations, according to Sheriff Tom Howard.
Most often, he said on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY), the reason for the revocation is driving under the influence.
“Usually, the people who are going the speed limit on the interstate are legal drivers, but so many of those who have issues with their licenses,” Howard explained. “But at least a third of the people our deputies pull over for whatever reason do not have a valid license, and that means they don’t have insurance either.
“One example this week was one driver who was pulled over because they were speeding at 88 mph, and when his license was checked, it was revoked, and he also was found to have two grams of marijuana in his vehicle. He was arrested for being revoked, and if he wasn’t speeding, no one would have known a thing.”
Dangerous Speeds
Ninety-six miles per hour. A Pennsylvania driver, at 9:29 p.m. Tuesday evening, was pulled over on I-70 westbound just after passing the Cabela’s exit. Kadija Mohamed was driving a white 2019 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, according to the report.
“Another thing we have noticed about the people who are speeding excessively on the interstate is that they are not local residents. Most of them live in Pennsylvania,” the sheriff reported. “Most of the people who live here know that the average speed changes once you get around the Pittsburgh area, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK for them to go that speed here in Ohio County.
“Some traveling that far over the speed limit are putting the others on the road at the same time in danger,” Howard insisted. “If they get a flat, or they have to come to a sudden stop; even those traveling the posted speed limits right now might have a tough time stopping. You just don’t know in those situations.”
Deputies with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department are told frequently that Google and other navigation programs list the speed limits for I-70 in Ohio County as 60 mph, but that excuse seldom works when the officer is considering a warning versus a citation. Verbal warnings often are issued, but seldom when a motorist speed exceeds 20 mph over the posted limit.
“We heard that a lot in the beginning of all of these projects, so we asked for the Division of Highways to add signage, and they did,” Howard said. “At this point, if they don’t see the 45 mph signs, I’m not real sure what they are doing in their cars and trucks. Obviously, they’re not paying attention to the signs, but thank goodness most of them see the barrels. Not all of them, but most.”
Screaming ‘Slow Down’?
A deputy also responded Tuesday to the parking lot of the Walmart at The Highlands after an argument ensued after a pedestrian yelled at a driver they believed was traveling too fast near the entrance of the store’s Service Center.
The operator of the vehicle in question was advised to slow down near crosswalk areas, and to be more respectful to elders. Ohio County Chief Deputy John Schultz advised, however, for local residents to resist the urge to scold motorists for one simple reason.
“These days, you just don’t know what another person is capable of in that situation,” he said. “This situation turned out to be OK, but what if the deputy wasn’t close enough to respond as quickly as he did? What if the situation involved someone who had a warrant out for their arrest?
“We’ve all been cooped up for a while, and a lot of people are just now getting out, and it seems people are a little tense and uneasy about it,” Schultz explained. “Some people are wearing masks, and others aren’t, and that seems to be making some people edgy about their safety, and that’s very understandable.”
Sheriff Howard agreed.
“Most of time, the driver just drives on, and nothing happens, and then there are occasions when there’s an argument and nothing else. But there have been times when fights have taken place,” he said. “No one really knows where those situations can go if the driver stops, and the person who yelled holds their ground.
“Road rage is a real thing, and we have had people pull guns,” Howard added. “My advice is to keep yourself safe and let things like that go.”
