Drive Safely: No matter what the signs say

Last November 15th, the opening day of the new Montana bison hunting season, a pair of electronic signs were placed beside Highway 191. One, for motorists heading south was at the top of the hill above the Duck Creek Y. The other, for north bound travelers was just outside of town

"Wildlife migration in progress," the signs flashed. And then announced that the speed limit ahead was 55 mph.

At the time State Transportation Department chief Jim Lynch, in Helena, said that the "migration" warning applied to elk as well as bison. And that the newly lowered speed limit was temporary, that the normal 70 mph limit would be restored in February, when the migration had ended.

The 55 mph flashing signs were not removed in February. Nor did the number of bison crossing and otherwise making use of that section of Highway 191 noticeably decline at any time during the month.

The signs were changed, however, early in March. The speed limit disappeared. A simple notice that bison might be on the road ahead was all that remained. This coincided with the arrival of a great many travelers, particularly from the mid-west, here for two consecutive weekends of major snowmobile events.

At the same time bison/vehicle collisions were becoming ever more prevalent on the highway north of town. A total of eight bison have been killed in the last week alone.

No other wild animal symbolizes and memorializes the history and culture of the American West like the bison. It is an icon to the West's grand distances and spaces; to its awe-inspiring fecundity and power. It is a spiritual sibling of many of the region's indigenous people. And, tragically, a symbol of the lengths European emigrants were willing to go to move those indigenous peoples out of the way.

That one of these animals should die splayed across the grille of a White Freightliner seems a particular indignity.

It is also unsettling to consider the danger the current situation poses for drivers, as well as their passengers and vehicles.

The day after Expo 2006, Monday, March 20, there were more sign changes. Temporary 55 mph speed limit signs were installed on the eastern end of Highway 287. And the flashing sign for southbound traffic on Highway 191 went back to the original message: Wildlife Migration in Progress -- 55 MPH.

As of Wednesday morning, March 22, however, the electric sign near the Forest Service District Station here in town has not likewise reverted to its original message. The sign presently reads : "WATCH FOR BISON." Followed by "ON HIGHWAY." Then an additional "ON HIGHWAY." Reading it makes you want to sing along.

There is obvious miscommunication on the loose between the suits in Helena and the guys here in the field. On Tuesday the News received a copy of an e-mail from DOT Director Lynch, expressing his belief that both Highway 191 signs were advising a 55 mph speed limit.

All this is by way of a long introduction to a request to West Yellowstone drivers. The signs, or lack of them, be damned. We know the bison are out there. We know that as soon as DOL begins its incessant hazing of animals off Horse Butte the situation is likely to get worse. We know the bison are not much concerned with getting out of our way. We know how difficult they are to see at night. So difficult on a dark night it fact, that even 55 is a bit too fast.

We know all this, and therefore we also know we need to be very attentive, and we need to SLOW DOWN. ON HIGHWAY.

So let's do it.

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