TOP OF MIND
Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION
Are Albuquerque drivers really that bad? What have you seen and what do you think can be done?
“We had been in town for one day, moving here for a job from Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Jan 1, 1973, driving Downtown, at Central and 4th. No traffic whatsoever. Our light turned green. I hesitated, and a guy blew through the red light. Welcome to N.M., drivers.” — Paul Trybus Albuquerque
“They put a man on the moon in 1969, but traffic lights can’t be timed better? Huge problem on Paseo. What’s the benefit of 0-to-55, only to stop at the very next light. And the next, and the next, etc. Better timing might deter some people from running red lights.”
— Jan Kohler Albuquerque
“ABQ drivers really that bad?” Unequivocally, yes. The Journal answered this question in a March 10, 2024, front page story citing supporting statistics from Forbes magazine rating us worst in the U.S. We see it every day. Why? Two generations of new drivers experiencing minimum traffic enforcement. Solution? Aggressive, intensive enforcement.” — David Coulie Albuquerque
“Years ago in Massachusetts, I found driving to be downright scary. Then I learned that the state had the fewest automobile deaths per capita. Why? Because with the congestion you had no choice but to stay constantly alert to what other drivers were doing. Here, less congestion, more opportunity for distraction.” — Kenneth Cooper Albuquerque
“Yes, Albuquerque drivers are really that bad — speeding, red light/stop sign violation, following too close. Why? As a former traffic captain it’s because there are not enough officers, the judges are way too lenient, and drivers are accustomed to no enforcement. Patrol cars rarely make traffic stops anymore. It’s dangerous.” — David Gilmore Albuquerque
“Here in NE Heights Albuquerque, we have speeding issues and rude drivers. Not hot-rodders. I’m talking the lady in the Cadillac Escalade barreling along Academy at 60 in a 40. The senior gent in his BMW sports car weaving and passing on Wyoming like a maniac, creating stress and nearly clocking a bicycler. I followed him to Starbucks, and was going to tap on his window to tell him what I thought, but then my inner voice cautioned, ‘No. Selfish old geezers tote guns.’” — Margaret Larson Albuquerque
“Bad drivers in N.M.? Anyone who has ever driven on the interstates in either California or New England will laugh at the idea that our drivers are worse than those. Sure, we have crazies on the road, but nothing like those places do.” — Don Smith Albuquerque
“Absolutely … If you’re not driving at least 10 mph over the limit on the freeway, you get run over and 20 mph is not uncommon. Where is speed enforcement? Basically non-existent. Enforce the speed limit.”
— Mark Bankston Albuquerque