THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180280
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
Looks like the students at Tallwood High School are in for a treat.
They've come out the winners of a school-year-long pilot program, ``Get It Together,'' sponsored by the American Coalition for Traffic Safety Foundation (ACTS), Concerned Citizens Advocating Traffic Safety (CCATS), the city public schools, the Police Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
In an effort to increase safety belt use in the 10 Virginia Beach high schools, the program was started in September to encourage everybody driving onto school grounds to wear their seatbelts. The winners were promised a rock concert by Rainmaker, a popular rock 'n' roll band.
Folks from the police department and CCATS went to each of the schools, about four times during the school year, and actually counted the number of people who drove onto school grounds wearing seatbelts.
Students were told about the program in a variety of ways. Some schools were given a short program on the topic, others were treated to a comedian who discussed the excuses people use for not wearing seatbelts.
The students at Tallwood were told about the program and told the numbers would be counted, but no school was told when the counting would take place.
Tallwood won because it had a 30 percent increase in seatbelt usage and about 80 percent of the drivers are using belts now.
The Tallwood students were treated to their rock concert Thursday.
Kellam High School came in second place with a 26 percent increase in usage. Ocean Lakes High School came in third place with an increase of 20 percent.
Each school involved in the program will receive a $100 donation to its alcohol-free prom party.
Overall, seatbelt usage increased by 18 percent throughout all of the schools.
So, Road says, let them all rock. They deserve it.
Gov. George Allen has declared May as ``Bicycle Month'' in Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Transportation says, in a recent press release, that it's been ``incorporating bicycling lanes and paths in many of its construction projects for more than 20 years.''
In 1989 it even formed a Bicycle Advisory Committee that includes clubs and groups statewide. The group came up with a planning guide called, ``A Virginia Guide for Bicycle Planning.''
If you'd like a copy, write to Richard C. Lockwood, State Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, VDOT, 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23219. Or call, (804) 786-2963.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Ken Thompson, no address given. I'm not sure you answered Debbie Graham's question on the HOV lanes. Why can't they go the other way if traffic is backed up?
Also, coming off I-64 onto Indian River Road, east, as you come down the lines from the new construction aren't lined up. They never fixed the lines on the road on the bridge, on the overpass of I-64, right by the exit. Thanks.
RW: You're not the only one confused by Road's answer to Debbie. Let me try again. HOV hours on the weekend: westbound lanes are open to all traffic beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. The switch for all traffic to use the lanes eastbound happens at 1 p.m. on Sunday. So, there are the weekend hours if you're interested.
As for being able to close the HOV lanes during planned construction, Dennis Gribok, a resident engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation, says: ``We do not plan to use the HOV lanes when we reduce travel lanes due to construction. We would consider it if there's an emergency incident that causes a reduction in the conventional lanes, that would last more than two hours. Which may or may not mean the use of the HOV lanes. It may mean alternate routes, taking traffic off interstates onto city streets, etc.
``If everyone's used to them being in one direction during a certain time of day, the logistics of turning them around to go in the opposite direction would be substantial. This is an emergency management type thing, rather than planned usage, which would be to allow the contractor to work during off-peak hours.
In other words, VDOT has no plans to implement any HOV hours according to construction. But, that doesn't mean it'll never happen. It just means that it'll have to be something big and important to make it happen.
As for your second question, again Dennis Gribok says they'll go out and take a look at those lines. Thanks for alerting them.
Brenda Bolden, no address given. My husband was in a mechanic's shop this morning when a gentleman walked up to the counter and asked why his car has been sitting outside for about 15 minutes.
The mechanic said they weren't allowed to put an inspection sticker on except between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
This was taking place about 7:55 p.m. Can you find out if that's true and if it is, why?
RW: According to the State Police, garages or dealers or anyone who provides inspections must make the inspections available during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Any service station or garage that wants to inspect later because it's open later is free to do so. But, no, there is no cap on when a vehicle can be inspected and the sticker placed on the windshield.
Sounds like that mechanic needs a refresher on inspections.
Speaking of which, if you think you've gotten a raw deal on an inspection - if they say you need brakes but you think you don't, etc. - a state policeman will be happy to discuss your concerns and even venture out to the place of business with you. To contact the State Police about vehicle inspections, call 1 (804) 925-2432.
Sam, The Neighborhood Cop. Talking about your column where Bruce is talking about people passing stopped school buses. There's a State Code, 46.2-844, that allows any citizen who witnesses any vehicle passing a stopped school bus to obtain a warrant for the owner of the vehicle. It's a civil penalty, a $50 straight fine. Of course, if I see them doing it, it's reckless driving, which is more fun. But, citizens do have a venue that they can go ahead and use in order for them to go ahead and charge people passing a school bus.
As far as people speeding in a school zone you need to start asking some of the people and kids at Cox High School, First Colonial High School and up on Great Neck Road if they're enforcing school zones, and I think you'll find out there's some pretty heavy enforcement up there. I've got a lot of people mad at me.
RW: Glad to see you're on the job about those speeders, Sam. And thanks for the information on reporting school bus offenders! 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.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood.
by CNB