THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505250183
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
This week, Road would like to tell you a true story about a little girl with flowing blond hair and a habit of collecting trolls.
The tale is about Annie Davis, a 12-year-old middle school student, gifted artist, avid soccer player and blue-eyed beauty.
The young honor roll student and poet touched several lives in three states.
One of Annie's poems, ``My Garden's Alive,'' is the title of a documentary that was recently selected out of 8,700 entries, to win a Bronze TELLY award at the Film Awards Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio.
You see, little Annie Davis was a victim of a drunk driver.
Early one October morning in 1993 her family's van was broadsided by a man who was driving while drunk. He suffered a broken nose; Annie lost her life.
Annie lived with her parents, Alan and Susan Edkins, in Annapolis, Md., where the accident took place.
After her death, students at her middle school were instrumental in lobbying state legislators to pass a new drunk driving law in May 1994.
The documentary on Annie's life and death is a testimony to the devastating effect of drunk driving. The film, seen through the eyes of Annie's friends and family, was produced by Mike Breault, a media resource specialist with USAA Mid-Atlantic's Regional Office in Norfolk.
The documentary is being distributed internationally as part of the DRIVE SMART anti-drunk driving program and is available free to anyone who wants a copy. Call the USAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Office at 459-4748.
And remember, this is a holiday weekend, let's not have any locals in a drunk driving documentary, OK?
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Ed, no address given. My complaint's about the intersection of BONNEY ROAD and INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD where you turn left onto Independence from Bonney, people don't always seem to follow that line that goes all the way over to the right-hand side to go on the toll road. I almost got hit again today.
People in that right-hand lane seem to think they're free to go wherever they want and but that's not the case. They need to follow that line or they need to post it up there on the stoplight or something.
I know you've talked about it before and I'm still complaining about it.
RW: Road has actually been surprised that of all the dozens of people using this area not many people have complained.
Anyhow, your observation is correct, Ed. Folks aren't getting the idea of following their lane line.
Engineers know there's a problem.
They're currently in the process of looking at more signs for the area to give people a clearer idea of what lane they're supposed to be in to travel in a certain direction.
Don't be surprised if you see a whole host of new signs for this area, not only in dealing with your complaint, Ed, but also dealing with letting people know what lane is for what exit coming up on Independence, northbound, heading toward Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Linda Coski, Lake Smith Terrace. My message is that there has been yet another serious accident at the intersection of INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD and EWELL ROAD. This time a neighbor died from her injuries. Too many cars on Independence speed right through the red light and we, who live in Lake Smith Terrace, are genuinely afraid to proceed through into the intersection on a green light. Is there anything that can be done about this?
Can the light be set on a delayed green on Ewell Road to give us an extra few seconds of safety?
There's also a hedge that blocks the view coming north on Independence.
Thank you very much.
RW: Your idea was so good Linda, engineers have already implemented it at this intersection. Once Independence turns yellow, four seconds pass. On the fifth second, both the Independence and Ewell lights are red. After that, Ewell's light goes to green.
Engineers say to add more seconds to each red phase would put a serious damper on moving traffic. As for the hedge that blocks the view, engineers are having someone drive out and take a look at it.
Jeanne, no address given. I would like to suggest that they make the speed limit between INDEPENDENCE and LYNN SHORES DRIVE 35 mph. There's a problem with people drag racing between those lights and there's been a lot of accidents due to people running red lights.
I feel this area's more commercial now and it should not be 45 mph.
RW: The main road between Independence and Lynn Shores is Virginia Beach Boulevard and surely you don't expect that a four-lane divided highway, designed specifically for 45 mph traffic be reduced.
There are businesses up and down Virginia Beach Boulevard and yes, people do tend to speed, but cutting traffic down to 35 mph is only going to back people up and make them more impatient. Road's advice in this situation: Since the speed limit on Virginia Beach Boulevard will not be reduced, take a few seconds yourself and be sure the intersections are clear before you go on green and watch for the person turning in front of you.
Jen Mitchum, Fairfield Shores. We have a terrible intersection here at WHITEHURST LANDING ROAD and PROVIDENCE ROAD.
The city OK'd a traffic light April 1, 1993.
We have yet to see the completion of construction. It started January 1995 and they said it would be done in 90 days.
I was just told they would not have it completed for another 90 days. Maybe you can get behind this and find out why it takes over two years to get a traffic signal that is so badly needed. Thank you and have a great day.
RW: Engineers say that it is ``very likely'' that this area was identified two years ago as needing a traffic signal. Typically, a signal takes about a year to plan, draw, and install. This one, however, seems to have hit some snags along the way, though. Road has no idea what those snags were other than some design problems. Engineers say the signal will be finished by October. 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