Drivers on Colo. 14 have free rein to speed

Because of the well-known but unwritten "squeaky-wheel" rule, Colo. 14 is largely ignored when it comes to traffic patrols.

Colorado State Patrol Capt. Gary Myers said his officers must spend almost all their time on the major highways in the county - Interstate 25, U.S. 85 and U.S. 34. Those three have many times the traffic volume and many times the accidents as Colo. 14.

Therefore, without troopers to catch them, speeders are common on this two-lane road through northeastern Weld County.

Last week, a traffic radar gun showed almost every vehicle on Colo. 14 was speeding.

The speed limit on most of Colo. 14 is 65 mph, but most cars and trucks were traveling at least 70. The highest, a blue Toyota with Nebraska plates, hit 89 mph.

The many truckers on the highway obviously had radar detectors, because as soon as the radar gun was turned in their direction, their speed quickly slowed to 65.

One area of the highway, near the Buckingham area, was being resurfaced and had several warning signs: "Gravel On Road," "No Center Line" and "Fines Doubled For Speeding."

The speed limit was reduced to 40 mph, but no one paid attention. During the radar check, none of the vehicles was under the speed limit, and the average speed was about 50 mph through the area.

A Logan County sheriff's car was clocked at 53 in the 40 mph zone, and a truck from the Colorado Department of Highways hit 52. One car, a white Saturn from Colorado, reached 77 in the 40 mph speed zone.