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Wednesday, January 24.1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Speed limit debate shifts to high gear
Kansas legislature could raise limits
By John Collar
Kansan staff writer
Putting the pedal to the metal will be the main topic of debate today in the Kansas House of Representatives.
In December, the federal government allowed the states to set their own limits.
Area legislators said their constituents had expressed safety concerns about higher limits.
"Most of my constituents are very concerned about raising the limits on Highway 40 and Highway 59," said State Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence. Constituents who had contacted him were concerned that the narrow shoulders on those highways would make an increase in speed limits hazardous for drivers.
Sloan said he supported a provision of the bill that would allow the state transportation department to set lower limits when road specifications made higher speeds potentially unsafe.
In addition to this provision, the bill would increase speed limits on four-lane highways from 65 mph to 70 mph. Two-lane highways would change from 55 to 65.
State Rep. Joann Flower, R-
Oskaloosa, said most constituents who had contacted her wanted the speed limits to remain the same.
Flower said the issue could pit the eastern part of the state against the west with the western part of the state wanting higher limits.
"When I drive west of Dodge City, I usually don't drive 55," she said.
Eric Bechtold, Topeka freshman, said the limits should be higher than 70 mph on interstates.
"I think we should gradually increase it," he said. "I think they should assess the number of wrecks to see if they should go higher with the speed limits."
Chris McCullough, Arlington, Texas, freshman, agreed with increasing the limits.
"It's not necessarily how fast you're driving, but it's your awareness as a defensive driver," she said.
McCullough said she generally drove 10-15 mph faster than the speed limit.
"I have a Mustang GT that is meant to go fast," she said. "I tend to go faster than I should."
If the states do not act before March 8, the limits will revert to those in place before 1974. In Kansas, those limits were 75 mph on four-lane highways, decreased to 70 at night, and 70 mph on two-lanes during the day, decreased to 65 at night.
ON CAMPUS
Ecumenical Christian Ministries/University Forum will sponsor "Who's at Home on the Range?" with lunch at 11:30 a.m. today at ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. For more information, call Thad Holcombe at 843-4933.
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor "Study Abroad Japan" at 3 p.m. today in 2085 Wesco Hall. For more information, call Nancy Mitchell at 864-3742.
KU Karate Club will practice at 5:30 p.m. today in 215 Robinson Center. For more information, call Jon Sides at 832-1771.
KUGAR will meet at 6 p.m. today in Parlors ABC of the Kansas Union. For more information, call Isaac Bell at 843-9176.
Ecumenical Christian Ministries will sponsor "Human Sexuality in Everyday Life Forum" at 6:30 p.m. today at ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. For more information, call Thad Holcombe at 843-4933.
The Emily Taylor Women's
Resource Center will sponsor "When Women and Men Drink" at 7 tonight in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union. For more information, call Rachel Lee at 864-3552.
KU Meditation Club is holding its weekly group meditation at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow in Alcove D of the Kansas Union. Call Ravi Hirekatur at 832-8789 for more information.
Student Assistance Center will sponsor a Memory and Note taking Workshop at 7 tonight in 330 Strong Hall. For more information, call Student Assistance Center staff at 864-4064.
KU Librarians will meet at 8 tonight in the Governor's Room of the Kansas Union. For more information, call Ena Wheeler at 842-4225.
■ KU Democrats is having its first meeting of the semester at 7 tomorrow night in the Jayhawk room of the Kansas Union. Call Ted Miller at 842-0766 for more information.
ON THE RECORD
Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer Flint Law, Lawrence, Kan. 66045.
A KU student's front passenger car window was damaged between Thursday and Sunday. The damage was valued at $100, KU police said.
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 6004, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and final periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 60044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $90. Student subscriptions are paid through the student activity fee.
CORRECTION
room of Carruth O'Leary sometime between Sept. 9 or Jan. 10. The items were valued at $90 KILO police said.
Monday's feature about the KU police department's World Wide Web site had the incorrect Web site address. The address is http://kuhtp.cc.ukans/cwis/units/KUCOPS/KUCOPS_home.html.
Various items were stolen from the basement storage
A KU student's parking permit was stolen from a car on Sunday. The permit was valued at $70, KU police said.
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Weather
TODAYS TEMPS
Atlanta
Chicago
Des Moines, Iowa
Kansas City, Mo.
Lawrence
Los Angeles
New York
Omaha, Neb.
St. Louis
Seattle
Topeka
Tulsa, Okla.
Wichita
THURSDAY
NIGH LOW
55 ° • 45 °
28 ° • 22 °
15 ° • 5 °
30 ° • 8 °
35 ° • 11 °
60 ° • 40 °
50 ° • 40 °
32 ° • 60 °
38 ° • 32 °
30 ° • 20 °
35 ° • 11 °
42 ° • 17 °
42 ° • 15 °
TODAY
Mostly cloudy with some possible clearing late.
Cloudy and remaining cold.
FRIDAY
Cloudy with a chance for snow.
Sources: KU Weather Service, Aaron Johnson/David Nadler/Chian-Wei
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Alpha Omicron Pi Some women join a house.
Others join a home.
The women of AOIP cordially invite unaffiliated women to attend the following rush activities at our Chapter home,1510 Sigma Nu Place:
Wednesday Jan.24-Open House 7:00pm Thursday Jan.25-House Tours 5:30pm or 7:00 pm
For more information you may visit the OAC office on the 4th floor of the Kansas Union or call 749-1103
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