Freeway Congestion

* The Voices discussion of freeway congestion due to CHP investigations is timely (Dec. 30), as incident congestion has become a major source of delay across the region.

To analyze the impact of the CHP’s procedures, it is necessary to look at the cost and the benefit. We can directly see the cost to the motoring public when the CHP closes lanes to conduct investigations. What we don’t see is the benefit. Looking further into the situation, almost all of the benefit is to insurance companies that are seeking to avoid claim payments.

When more people realize that there is very small benefit to them from the CHP following its procedures, perhaps we can all ask Gov. Gray Davis to make some changes.

JIM DODD

San Diego