The July 12 front-page article "Speed limit 55? Bumps ahead" triggered some thoughts about things that government could do to reduce oil imports, things that would be no more difficult than changing all the speed-limit signs on the highways but that would actually speed the flow of traffic instead of slowing it down.

They include permitting left turn on green at many more intersections, changing the settings on traffic lights at the intersections of feeder streets/roads and main streets/roads to flashing red on the feeders during the noncommuting hours; going back to the traffic engineers' left-turn standards of 20 to 30 years ago as the current standards block many desired left turns and force additional mileage.

I'm sure there are other possibilities as well. The 1970s' oil shortage brought the right turn on red law to many additional states. Given today's high-energy costs, it's time for governments to re-evaluate those traffic regulations and standards causing unnecessary idling time or additional mileage.

Tom McKee

Cary

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.