The Kansas City Star, Mo., Watchdog Column: Scout Urges Headlights, Not Speed
By The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Feb. 2–Today’s problem
Bob Baltzell wants messages posted on the Kansas City Scout signs to remind drivers to turn on their headlights whenever their windshield wipers are in use.
“I still see many drivers who are not aware of this law (and) don’t turn their headlights on,” Baltzell wrote.
Baltzell also is concerned that the travel times posted on the Scout signs are encouraging drivers to speed. He pointed out that sometimes the signs indicate that downtown Kansas City is 12 minutes away and the travel time is 12 minutes, which assumes drivers are traveling at 60 mph — 5 mph over the limit on some interstate segments.
“The Scout sign should not encourage drivers to drive faster than the speed limit,” he wrote.
The answer(s)
It seems you weren’t the first to complain about headlight reminders. Scout operators already have received several calls or e-mails on this, said spokeswoman Gina Myles.
Before November, Scout only posted public-safety messages from a statewide safety campaign.
Scout has loosened up since then on messages and now uses phrases such as “Low visibility, Use headlights” or “Fog or rain, Use headlights, It’s the law.” Those messages are posted on signs not used for incident messages or travel times.
As far as speeding, Myles said, the travel times posted by Scout reflect actual average speeds.
“With travel times, Scout is providing information to the motorist. We are not telling them to driver faster or exceed the speed limit. We are simply telling them that it should not take longer than the posted travel time to reach their destination,” she said.
The Watchdog says he saw his shadow today, which means six more weeks of dieting.
Have a problem or a question about a public issue? It doesn’t have to be traffic-related. Write in care of The Watchdog, The Kansas City Star, Newsroom, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108. Or send e-mail to
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