The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996                  TAG: 9603010030
SECTION: COMMENTARY               PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   31 lines

ARREST DRIVERS, NOT TREES

I was amazed to read ``On Shore Drive, cut trees, save lives'' (letter, Feb. 4), accusing two previous letter-writers of ``insensitivity'' because they did not support the city's plan for increasing safety on Shore Drive. The only ``insensitivity'' I see in this whole issue is that of the people who drive recklessly on that road and jeopardize not only their own lives, but the lives of others.

If one obeys the speed limits and drives rationally along that beautiful stretch of road, it is well nigh impossible to have an accident.

My suggestion to the city fathers, who rightly want to make Shore Drive safer, would be to place two policemen on duty 'round the clock - one near ``the curve'' and one halfway down the road. I imagine their salaries would be a good bit less than $550,000 for Phase I of the proposed plan, and the money from the tickets given would certainly help fill the city coffers.

The rules for safe driving are already made. Let's save lives - and trees - by enforcing them and stopping the problem where it begins - with the drivers, young and old!

ALINE S. LANGSTON

Norfolk, Feb. 5, 1996 by CNB