First, Ohio Turnpike Commission reported a record low number of fatalities on the 241-mile toll road last year — after the speed limit was raised to 70 mph.

Then, state Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, proposed raising the speed limit on all Ohio interstates from 65 mph to 70 mph.

We hope the idea doesn’t end up in the fast lane.

State legislators should keep in mind that for most of its length, the Ohio Turnpike is three lanes wide in both directions. Most interstates are only two lanes wide until they traverse areas with greater traffic congestion.

Also, many drivers on Ohio interstates already push their speed to 70 mph. Raising the posted speed limit to 70 mph likely would result in more drivers cruising along at 75 mph. And, any crashes that occur at the higher speeds are likely to be more severe, which would raise the cost in terms of injuries and damage to vehicles.

Increased costs won’t stop there. Studies have shown decreased fuel efficiency at higher rates of speed, and there would be a cost associated with replacing roadside signs.

State lawmakers should direct Maag’s proposal to the next off ramp.

The Marietta Times

 

Background checks can be done right and fast

Better to do it right than do it fast when it comes to background checks for prospective casino employees. As Ohio gets into the casino business, it can’t be too careful about how it regulates workers who handle large sums of cash.

But the state’s failure to make sure these tasks can be completed in time for the projected March 26 opening of the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland is regrettable.

State casino overseers should have foreseen delays and started earlier while devoting sufficient staff and resources to do the job right.

Ohio Casino Control Commission Chairwoman Jo Ann Davidson … said background checks on casino operators and vendors got behind schedule in part because of quibbling by the operators over what they must reveal. …

The Cleveland casino, with 2,100 slot machines and 63 table games, is expected to employ 1,600.

A Plain Dealer analysis has suggested that a one-month delay in opening Cleveland’s casino could cost the city $809,000 (or $2 per resident) in forgone casino tax, Cuyahoga County $396,000 (or 31 cents per resident) and the Cleveland School District $135,000 ($3 per pupil).

Of course, that doesn’t count forgone casino paychecks or, also forgone, spin-off spending downtown. …

Davidson and the commission staff are going by the book, as they should. But maximizing diligence and minimizing delay are not necessarily incompatible goals.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer