ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606030086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO ROGER HART/STAFF.
SOURCE: KATHY LU STAFF WRITER
A RED STAR over Roanoke might soon signal a drug-or alcohol-related driving fatality. City Council will discuss the matter Monday.
Roanoke City Council may decide Monday whether to turn the Mill Mountain star red for 48 hours after every drug-or alcohol-related traffic death in the region.
Council received the proposal May 20 from the New Century Council and the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The idea is to increase the public's awareness of the frequency of these deaths in an on-going campaign called "Keep the Star White."
"In 1994, our region's average of alcohol-related deaths was about 8 percent above the state's average," said Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., New Century Council executive director. "That is not well with our quality of life, and we want to change the star in that light.''
The New Century Council is an economic development organization representing nine counties and five cities in the Roanoke and New River Valley areas.
The state Department of Motor Vehicles' 1994 Traffic Crash Facts book reported 867 alcohol-related crashes in the New Century region. They resulted in 25 deaths, which means the star would have burned red for 50 evenings in 1994.
The proposal was referred to City Manager Bob Herbert, who will return Monday with a report.
Fitzpatrick believes coloring the the star red is the best way to draw the region's attention to the problem of drug-and alcohol-related traffic deaths.
Brenda Altman, president of the MADD chapter, wants to make the community more aware of the emotional suffering that comes with these deaths. She lost her sister eight years ago and suffered permanent injuries herself when a drunken driver hit their car head-on on Interstate 64.
Altman could not walk for two years afterward and has gone through numerous surgeries.
"Our goal is not to have any more shattered lives," Altman said. "We want to teach people to be responsible when they take that drink. We're not trying to make any rules for anybody. We're here for the citizens and to pick up the pieces."
Since there are already red, white and blue fluorescent tubes on the star, changing colors would be a matter of flipping a switch. But Carl Kopitzke, chairman of the Mill Mountain Development Committee, said the committee had some reservations about a red star.
"We don't want to have [the star] stand as a depressing signal to the city," he said. "We're not against [the campaign], and there is no doubt that [drunken driving] is a serious problem, but we're hesitant to utilize the star to bring that to the forefront."
This was the problem the city encountered in the 1950s, when the star burned red for three days after each traffic fatality.
"I remember it became a negative thing because the star stayed red all the time," said Nelson Jackson, manager of building maintenance and custodial services for Roanoke. "But if it'll make people look up and say that they've got to do something about it, then I think it's a good idea."
The goal is to educate the public and prevent drunken driving, which was the No.1 killer of people between the ages of 16 and 24 in 1994, Altman said. Statistics also show that a person is injured every 30 minutes by a drunken driver and that on a weekend night, one out every 10 drivers is legally intoxicated. Two out of every five people will be involved in some type of alcohol-related crash sometime in their lives, Altman said.
"The red will definitely communicate some emotion and tell people that a tragedy has occurred," she said. "And this is a positive campaign. We want the star to stay white."
Some young adults, however, doubt that changing the star's color will affect their behavior.
"I don't think that having a bleeding star will have any impact on people's drinking and driving habits," said Chad Sartini, a 20-year-old Southwest Roanoke resident who attends Washington and Lee University. "It's a very eerie look when it's red and, not to downplay these accidents, but I think that [turning it red] should be reserved for things like national disasters.''
Brian Gray, a 21-year-old Salem resident, admitted that a red star wouldn't have much effect on his personal behavior.
"It might make the star more noticeable, but I don't know if it'll change much," he said.
But residents who remember the '50s campaign are more optimistic.
"I want it red," said Doris Moorman of Hardy. "It'll not only alert you to what can happen with drinking, but with drugs, too."
Judy Saine, a former Vinton resident and Moorman's sister, agreed.
"I think it'd alert people to the fact that someone has died," she said. "And the people who used to see it turn red may wonder why it's happening again."
According to Vice Mayor William White, City Council is mostly concerned with the mechanics of changing the star's color. Otherwise, White thinks it's a good idea.
"I think [a red star] will serve as an important reminder of the pitfalls of driving under the influence," he said. "And anything to make people more aware of that is something [City Council] supports."
Altman said MADD and the New Century Council are willing to work with City Council to launch the program.
"Drunk driving is no accident. People make that choice to drink and drive," she said. "If even one life can be spared as a result of this campaign, then it's well worth all our efforts and any expense."
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