On Jan. 30 you printed an editorial, “On road to safety.” It said that “Maine has seen an increase in car accidents involving young people between the ages of 16 and 24.” Too, “Mainers died between those ages every seven days, on average.”

Were all who died drivers, or were they passengers? How many of each age died? Were there more 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24-year-olds? Why are the younger persons being punished for what was maybe caused by older drivers?

In 2002, I read about 171 accidents in this part of the state with 107 persons killed and 188 injured. If 49 deaths get the younger drivers punished, than who is punished for the other 58 deaths?

To date in 2003 I have read of 11 accidents; one who died was a 17-year-old driver. This is mid-February. The next youngest was 31 years of age. The “seven days on average” has gone by!

The state has all sorts of laws to do with driving and all of the law enforcement officers in Maine cannot stop the problem. Speed, OUI, slippery roads, crossing the line to be the major factors; however, no one is put to an inconvenience for the deaths.

An OUI conviction gets a suspended license. Why not suspend the license of anyone who causes a serious accident (beyond the fender bender that is)?

I got my license in less than two months after my 15th birthday (before driver’s ed was invented). My grandfather taught me how to drive. He also explained the rules for me to be able to use his auto. After all, it was his investment (bought when $0.63 was the base hourly pay in the Rumford mill). I drove by his rules or I would have to buy my own car.

I feel that this should be given more real thought. Make it ring true! Don’t shoot from the hip, so to speak!

Marshall H. Longway, Dixfield