THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509010172
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
A Currents report Friday on citizen comments about traffic was interesting and reflected concern for neighborhood safety. However, one of the nagging questions raised by the complaints and suggestions is, ``What am I willing to do about it?''
Many of the problems could be solved if people simply abided by the laws and paid attention to things like speed limits and caution lights when they are driving.
People in this area - and especially in this city - are notorious for running red lights and for pushing yellow lights. In some places in town, drivers who intend to stop for yellow lights first need to check their rear-view mirrors to be sure the vehicles behind them seem to be prepared to stop. Otherwise, stopping for a yellow light can get you rammed from the rear.
Others habitually speed through town, even if they get there at the same time with those who do not exceed the speed limits. The speeders will pass on cramped streets, as quickly as they will on the freeway, anybody who is exceeding the limit by a mere five miles per hour.
Drivers seldom stop for pedestrians at crosswalks or intersections. In residential areas, vehicles zoom by homes without any regard for the fact that children might be playing nearby.
Aside from all the dangerous driving habits, such as speeding and running lights, many drivers seem to take on different personalities when they get behind the wheel. Some play their radios very loud in the middle of the night, so loud that they wake up sleeping citizens. Other throw trash on streets and laws and some even discard glass bottles that break in the street.
Although many motorists frequently act as if they are the most important people in the world, just as many drivers are not rude and try to abide by traffic regulations.
Sadly, some of the very people who complain about traffic in their neighborhoods behave just as poorly when they pass through other neighborhoods.
The secret to solving most of the problems is law enforcement and peer pressure. When law-abiding drivers are willing to chastise their friends and neighbors for breaking traffic laws and for being inconsiderate of others, then we will overcome the problems.
How many people are willing to stick their necks out to make the city safer? by CNB