THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412290147
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
Jan. 1 is a milestone for establishing new regulations, and the rules of the road are no exception.
For instance, beginning Sunday, drivers suspected of being impaired will have their driving privileges taken away for seven full days if they blow a
If they refuse the breathalyzer, it's an automatic license suspension. Drivers will no longer have a choice between blowing into a tube and getting a blood test. In other words, you will blow into the tube, and you will take the consequences.
Personally, Road thinks anyone stupid enough to drive drunk shouldn't have a license at all.
For those of you who do deserve a license, though, you also face some changes in the way you're tested.
The Department of Motor Vehicles is replacing paper and pen normally used for the written section of the driver's license exam with an electronic version.
The newfangled system has an equally big name, too. It's called the Knowledge Automated Testing System (KATS). It's a hands-on computer that tests applicants on their knowledge of driving and the rules of the road.
The computer spits out random questions, illustrated by photographs. A testee touches the screen to select an answer and then the computer advises the person if he or she is correct. The computer automatically tabulates answers so that the test ends as soon as a person reaches a ``pass'' or ``fail'' level.
The computer offers the test orally and in written English or Spanish.
The KATS system already has been installed at the DMV on Mustang Trail and at the Buckner Boulevard location.
The computer will test folks for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and motorcycle driver's licenses.
So, there's no need to bring your pencil to DMV. And cheating? Forget it. The computer won't ask the same question twice. Road plans to test out this new system and report back.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
John Meulenberg, Sunrise Drive. My beef is this: Coming down the overpass on Shore Drive to Diamond Springs Road, there always has been a right-hand lane there to turn. The road people have knocked it off and put barriers there. I think there's quite a build up of traffic and maybe someone will come over that hill and slam into the back of somebody. What can be done about it?
Dick Cheliras, No Address Given. Diamond Spring and Shore. Going east where they've eliminated the right-turn lane. That used to move traffic real well. First we repaved it and now we've eliminated it.
Mary Stull, No Address Given. My beef is Shore Drive, over Diamond Springs Road. They blocked off the right-hand turn. Why did they ever do that?
RW: In answer to everyone above, yes, the road was paved and yes, the turn lane was eliminated - temporarily.
Engineers have erected striped poles so that everyone will quit trying to get in a right-hand lane that is no longer designated a right-hand turn lane. However, the poles are a temporary measure until the folks with the city can get out there to do the line painting to reinstall that right lane.
Karl Pecoraro, Birdneck Village. Concerning the CMAQ project, have they been to the intersection of Laskin Road and First Colonial?
Also, at that intersection, whatever happened to the emergency signal where the lights would turn red and let the emergency vehicles get through?
RW: The answer to your first question, Karl, is no. CMAQ has not reached that particular area yet. CMAQ has reached west Shore Drive, from Nider Drive (that's the signal west of Independence going into Little Creek) to Greenwell; east Shore Drive from Vista Circle to the North Great Neck corridor; Princess Anne Road, from Lynnhaven Parkway to Tiffany and then Princess Anne Road from Lynnhaven Parkway to Independence Boulevard. General Booth, from Prosperity to Dam Neck (including Eaglewood on Oceana) has been retimed but needs to be tightened up, which likely will happen soon in the new year.
The next area to be retimed is Northampton Boulevard from Burton Station to Shell Road and then Lynnhaven Parkway from North Lynnhaven Road to Cherie Drive (at South Lynnhaven).
As for your second concern, the light at First Colonial is still set with a preemptor for the emergency vehicles. In fact, engineers are looking at possibly putting more of these (where the emergency vehicle, upon its approach to the intersection, can hit a button and it turns all the signals to red so that they can safely move through an intersection) in strategic locations.
Andy Young, No Address Given. Southbound on First Colonial trying to make a left at Laurel Lane, which is the light before Hilltop, is impossible. I know they've got a new left-turn arrow for northbounders on First Colonial turning left into almost nothing but a tiny trailer park.
All the left-turners at Laurel and First Colonial are southbound, they're the ones who need the arrow. I wonder if this has something to do with all the construction going on around there.
RW: This signal was recently rebuilt, and since it will be part of what the city folks are calling the ``Hilltop Loop,'' engineers decided to go ahead and include the left-turn arrow in the signal's revamping.
Heading west on what will be called Bonney Parkway (the street directly across from Laurel Lane) you will eventually be able to loop back around to Laskin Road.
Of course, that won't happen for years. Until then, engineers say that left-turn arrow is a case of advanced planning.
Sherryl Shonyo, No Address Given. I just wonder why there's not a light by Virginia Beach General Hospital on First Colonial Road. It seems really dangerous for people getting in and out of there.
RW: You aren't the first to ask this question, but unfortunately the answer hasn't changed. There's no signal there because there's not nearly enough traffic coming out of and going into the hospital on an hourly basis.
Bob, No Address Given. Recently you had an article about the light at First Colonial and Laurel Cove. There is a left-turn light coming out of Laurel Cove, but there is not a left-turn light on First Colonial going onto Great Neck Road. To me, this should be reversed. Take a look at it and you'll see what I mean.
RW: Engineers already beat Road to it, Bob. They say you could have a point there, so they're checking the options for that particular area. 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