ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 4, 1997 TAG: 9703040080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: what's on your mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: How do I know when to call #77 and when to call 911 when I see a "situation" on the highway? I once saw a man stumbling along the center barrier of 581 at downtown - who would I call if I saw him tomorrow? Or, in the more common case, how about just a car broken down on the side of the road? R.D., Roanoke
A: In a city, call 911.
That's your best chance of quickly reaching police in the correct jurisdiction. Calls to 911 may be answered by state police or a local police department, but they can be transferred to police where you are.
Calls to #77 go to a state police regional headquarters. It's a good number to call if you're on an interstate highway or a rural road anywhere.
Headlights in rain
In the past, readers have asked why Virginia doesn't require headlights when it's raining.
Starting July 1, there will be a law - of sorts.
Proving that safety doesn't have to be simple, the General Assembly OK'd a headlights-in-the-rain bill on Feb. 22 after making sure it wouldn't have too many teeth.
Several states already have the law, and Virginia has been attempting to get it passed since 1992.
Assuming there's no veto, Section 46.2-1030 will say headlights must be used whenever windshield wipers are turned on because of rain, sleet or snow - but not if the wipers are used intermittently.
Failure to use the lights cannot be argued as negligence in lawsuits; demerit points will not be charged to drivers; and citations can't be issued unless a police officer stops the unlighted car for another offense.
Traffic signals
Q: On some traffic-light posts that extend across the road there are a small box and a spotlight. I've had the spotlight shine directly on me when I stopped for a light. What is this equipment used for?
A: They're not taking our picture and they're not recording our movements.
The spotlight and the box, which looks like a camera, help emergency vehicles get through traffic.
Roanoke has these devices at about 80 intersections. Roanoke County has some too, especially on Virginia 419.
As a fire truck approaches an intersection, it sends a signal with a strobe light. The camera-like box receives the signal and puts the traffic light into phase to be green for the fire truck.
The spotlight flashes a confirmation to the fire truck's driver that the traffic light is about to turn green, if it isn't already.
M.W., Salem
Have a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Maybe we can find the answer. Call us at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RAYR@Roanoke.com
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