THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 19, 1996 TAG: 9601180124
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 112 lines
Ever have one of those days where you wish you didn't own a car?
This whole month's been that way for Road.
It seems that every day Road gets in a car, there's someone out there determined to make my driving miserable.
Whether it's a direct hit to Road's wallet or some idiot who rides my rear-end when I'm doing the speed limit, driving has been a real irritant.
First, it was the tire situation. In the midst of our snowstorm almost two weeks ago, Road happened to look down at my car tires and realized, shazam, no tread's left!
So, I go into the nearest franchise tire dealer and tell the guy behind the counter, ``Look, I need four tires. Real men's tires with nothing but tread. Or, tires with spikes if you have those.''
The guy must have taken me seriously because Road got ``real men's'' tires, to the tune of $490, including alignment and wheel balancing.
But, hey, they have tread!
Then there was the mail. There sat yet another bill from our dear city treasurer wanting me to fork over $25 for the privilege of driving in our fair city this year.
Then, it was time to renew insurance. There goes another $260 to ``protect'' myself and others while I'm on the road.
Before that, there was property tax for owning the vehicle in the city. It doesn't seem to matter that tax had already been paid, based on the sales price of the car, when it was bought.
Just when do you stop paying for the privilege of driving?
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Tommy Davis, no address given. I'm calling about a huge trouble spot in the Pembroke area. Heading south on INDEPENDENCE and turning left onto VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD, it's a very short light cycle and the left two arrows are much too short. You have to sometimes wait three cycles to get through that. As you could guess, everybody runs the light turning left there. Can you please talk to the engineers to make that a longer green? I don't know why it's so short with so much traffic turning left, and I'm sick and tired of it.
RW: Gosh, Tommy, it's been so long since Road's heard someone complain about this left turn that Road assumed all was well. Engineers report that there are no problems with the timing but, they do say that there are some occasions where the timing isn't as effective.
For instance, during a holiday when everyone's trying to get to the mall or when a special event lets out and the area is flooded with cars. The light's timing is based on traffic averages and not special circumstances. Road hits this light daily between 5 and 5:15 p.m. and has never sat more than two cycles to turn left. In fact, at 5 p.m., Road expects to sit a minimum of two cycles.
Fletcher Burton, no address given. Instead of spending $12,000 for these metal guardrails at INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD at the ROUTE 44 overpass why not use water barriers that they use at racetracks? They're a heck of a lot cheaper and just as safe.
RW: Hey, maybe that's not a bad idea, Fletcher. They've got to be cheaper than $12,000 guardrails.
Engineers are considering erecting flexible posts because folks coming off Route 44 are swinging over to the left side of the road (often cutting off those getting on Route 44) to line themselves up to hang a left on Euclid.
It's not a safe situation, and the flexible poles will certainly cut most of that out.
Karen, Virginia Beach. On NORTHAMPTON BOULEVARD there's a single red light down near the Bay Bridge-Tunnel and when it's red it blinks white. I was just wondering what that's for?
RW: The red light with flashing white light is to catch drivers' attention to make them aware that yes, the light is red.
Lew, no address given. There should be a traffic light at 34th STREET and PACIFIC AVENUE at Crestar Bank and the Mayflower Apartments. There used to be one. There's been at least an accident every month in the last seven years.
RW: Now, Lew, are you sure you're not embellishing the number of accidents there? That's 84 accidents, and the intersection isn't even on the accident report list.
Anyway, there has been a campaign to get a pedestrian signal down there but engineers say they've studied the idea before and the area never met the warrants - there weren't enough people or cars trying to cross the street. Engineers say that remains true.
Sarah, no address given. I'm calling concerning the light at Tallwood High School and KEMPSVILLE ROAD. I've been driving there at midnight and I get a red light and there's no one at Tallwood High School.
It's really annoying to stop for a red light when there's nobody there. Thanks, bye.
RW: Sounds like there could be a bad detector if the light's turning to the side street whether anyone's there or not. Engineers will check it out.
Diane, Virginia Beach. Calling in regard to INDIAN RIVER ROAD and WEST NECK ROAD. At night, if you're heading west on Indian River as you approach West Neck Road there's no sign stating that the road curves to the left at the intersection. They do have a street light there, but the area is so dark you can't tell where the road goes. I thought the city might like to take a look at either putting a brighter light out there, relining the roads, or putting a sign up that shows there's a curve in the road.
RW: Apparently, Diane, there was a serious accident at this intersection not long ago, which prompted engineers to see if poor visibility or other problems existed there.
Engineers didn't find any problems, but they're taking your suggestion and have decided to go back out and see if maybe you don't have a point in suggesting a sign or a brighter light. 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