THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502160107
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
If ever you doubt this country's greatness, you need only drive down one of our city's many radar-ridden roads to get a jolt of good ol' Americana.
Proof in point: Road was headed down Bonney Road one recent evening when, lo and behold, there sat an officer of the law, aiming a radar gun right at Road's car.
Usually, this scenario would make me a little nervous. I mean a cop with a radar gun is usually not something to start singing about, especially when it's aimed right at you.
Nevertheless, Road broke into song while breezing by him because, you see, Road had just experienced a bit of America.
About a mile up the road, a mass of cars heading the other way had flicked their lights off and on to warn others. Most of us know that flicking your lights usually means, ``Slow. Cop ahead.''
At the time, Road thought the incident, which probably happens a zillion times throughout Hampton Roads any day, was very cool and very American.
If you ask the cops, though, they'll tell you how warning other drivers in this fashion will net you a ticket for interfering with an officer of the law.
Yep, it's true. You can actually be ticketed for warning other drivers. It's happened before and people have been convicted in court, according to public relations guru Mike Carey at the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Then again, by flicking your lights to warn others you're really serving the same purpose as the cop waiting to write speeding tickets, and that's to slow people down.
As an unnamed editor here said, ``What if we just rode around all day flicking our lights?''
Which is why, my friends, he's an editor and Road's the Road Warrior.
Until next week . . .
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
A note about Indian River Road: Engineers say that all of the signals on Indian River should be working correctly - that is, they should only be turning to the side streets when someone is sitting there.
As for the 35 mph speed limit - that is temporary. If it hasn't already been changed, it will be shortly. It goes back to 45 mph all the way down Indian River Road.
McKenzie Moorehouse, Columbus Station. I'm calling about your response to Peggy Walker concerning the intersection of COLUMBUS and CONSTITUTION.
First of all, you mention that it's only a couple of times a day that the theaters let out. But if you have 12 theaters and they show movies four times a day that's 48 times a day. And if they're only open for nine hours, that's five times an hour.
Having been a resident of Columbus Station for the past 10 years it's very difficult to get out of there. Please try to get something done about that, even more stop signs or something.
RW: Well, McKenzie, don't fret yet. It seems that Road may have jumped the gun about nothing being done at Columbus. It's either that or someone pretty influential lives there. It seems that now there is some talk going on about what to do with the area. There's a plan in the works. Unfortunately Road hasn't been privy to the information yet. However, you can bet that once Road finds out what the deal is, Road'll pass it on. A secret's no good unless it's shared.
Linda, no address given. I believe that it was Sammy Hagar who did the song, ``I can't drive 55,'' and not Ted Nugent. Bye.
Ellen Diggs, no address given. I just wanted to let you know ``I can't drive 55'' was not a Ted Nugent song. It was Sammy Hagar. Thanks.
Alicia Grimm, Salem Lakes. I'm new to the area and you said that Ted Nugent sang ``I can't drive 55.'' It really was Sammy Hagar and I wanted you to be correct because I know that's important to you. Thanks.
RW: No, thank you, Linda, Ellen and Alicia for setting Road straight on the singer of ``I can't drive 55.'' Lord knows, you don't mess with anyone's rock 'n' roll.
Jane Simith. When I'm driving down GENERAL BOOTH BOULEVARD coming home from work during rush hour, I really hate it when the people coming off Oceana just cut right across traffic with no regard as to who's in the lane. That really bugs me. If they cause the accident it's going to be their - beep - insurance.
I really think Road Warrior is a good idea but it seems like a lot of the people who call really have a lot of wimpy comments. Come on, people, let's toughen up. Stop being wimps!
RW: C'mon, Jane, not all of us are wimps!
Lou Dodson, no address given. The question I have concerns the little blue reflectors that have been placed in the new roads in Virginia Beach. The stretch of road between Dam Neck and General Booth Boulevard on LONDON BRIDGE ROAD has these new reflectors. They're blue and they're spaced about a 10th of a mile apart and they're right in the middle of the driving lanes. I'm just curious as to what they're for.
RW: Pretty observant, Lou. No one else has noticed that Virginia Beach is installing new blue reflectors in the middle of the roads.
Road called the city and was told that these reflectors are being used to mark the locations of fire hydrants. Most all blue reflectors stuck to the middle of the road indicate some type of emergency situation, maybe a fire station ahead or a place to draw water.
Tony DeMarco, no address given. I'm calling about the lack of lines on BONNEY ROAD, from Rosemont Road to Independence Boulevard. It's long overdue that they do something about those. I called the city numerous times and got no response.
RW: Yeah, Road's asked about this one, too. Road was never given a date, but was told that it was on the list to be restriped and it was far down on the list. Obviously, it was a lot further than either you or I thought.
Anyway, Road put in another call and received the same ``it's on the list'' response.
Kim Sinagel, Point 'O View. When you're coming down Greenwich, toward Newtown Road, there are two lanes right there. The left lane is a straight lane (up to Route 44) or a left turn to go onto Newtown; the right lane is right turn only on Newtown. These idiots out there try to make it a three-lane road - one to turn left, one to go straight and one to turn right - because the lines in the road have mysteriously disappeared. Can we get someone out there to repave those lines?
RW: We can certainly try to get someone to repaint the roads. However, as you can see above about Bonney Road, it could be some time before anyone gets around to actually doing it. Road's thinking about getting into the spray paint business. Thanks for alerting us to the problem, Kim. MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off your
chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial ROAD
(7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again to
sign off.
Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia
Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462. Include your name, address and
neighborhood.
by CNB