Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 6, 1995 TAG: 9504060069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
B.C., Roanoke
A: It's been noticed: Phones can distract drivers, and legislators in some states say they will bring up the issue, the American Automobile Association reports.
No state has a law requiring callers to pull over, though.
Florida allows cellular phone use by drivers as long as one ear remains free to pick up surrounding sounds.
Massachusetts allows the phones if the driver keeps one hand on the steering wheel.
Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles advises callers to pull over for safety reasons, but it's not a law.
Brazil, Australia and Switzerland allow hands-free phones for drivers, reports the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association in Washington, D.C. A new cell phone can be mounted near the visor.
Count law-enforcement people among cellular phone advocates; lots of DUI and other reports are called in to 911 by drivers with car phones.|
Intersection idea
Q: Now that U.S. 220 Alternate is almost complete, the traffic light at Read Mountain Road (Virginia 654) stops trucks just as they're getting started uphill. It seems like an ideal place to make the right-hand lane of 220 a continuous through lane with a green light all the time. Traffic coming out of Read Mountain Road could still turn left to go north, and there seems to be enough room for each lane.
R.S., Roanoke
A: Your idea is an interesting concept, Salem District highway engineer Jeff Echols says.
But he thinks it would require a wider road, with a concrete barrier separating the continuous through lane from traffic making the left turn from Read Mountain onto 220 North.
Also, long trucks making that left turn now use most of the pavement in both lanes of 220, he said.
Echols said he knows of only one intersection similar to the one you suggest. It's at the exit from Valley View Mall, where cars using the exit road near Tire America are separated by a concrete curb for several yards before they merge with other outbound traffic.
Echols also said there's an accident potential when two lanes side by side have different lights, one green and one red.
Religious majorities
Q: What religious denominations have the most members in the 104th Congress?
B.B., Check
A: Of the 535 members of Congress, 148 are Roman Catholics, and 68 are Baptists. United Methodists recently slipped to third with 63, the Methodist News Service reports.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB