THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511020169
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
Road's as big a sucker for a good love story as anyone, so when Rona Wright called wanting to know about the red and white signs along Newtown Road it seemed worth investigating.
Well, OK, Road admits it was really just a slow day in the office and a nice day for a drive.
Anyway, Rona says the signs said, ``Leslie. I love you. Calixto.''
Well, Road drove up and down Newtown Road looking for the written declarations of love and couldn't find the signs anywhere.
Wait. Let's rephrase that. There were a ton of signs but none that declared love.
Guess that relationship didn't last long, eh?
Anyone got any idea what or who's behind this story?
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Lynn Crawford, no address given. On Route 44, at the old toll plaza heading east, they reduced the speed limit to 35 mph for no apparent reason and they're not enforcing it.
They need to either enforce the 35 mph or take it down.
A lot of people, out-of-towners especially, slow to 35 mph and they're going to get run over by those folks still doing 60 mph.
Give me a hand on getting that sign down or getting this enforced.
RW: Actually, the Virginia Department of Transportation probably dropped that speed limit because they've allowed the use of the shoulder lanes between 3 and 5 p.m. heading east. Once you get close to the construction, they ask that you merge over because that shoulder lane ends. In all honesty, though, Road's guessing on this because Road's favorite VDOT engineer isn't in this week.
As for enforcement of the sign, well, there can't be an officer sitting there 24 hours a day. Just like our city streets, there are not enough policemen to go around to catch all these lawbreakers.
And, consider this: If someone rams your tail-end while you're doing the speed limit who do you think's going to get the ticket?
Anyway, if the story behind this 35 mph is different than what Road has said, Road will gladly eat my words and set the record straight.
Jim Nichols, no address given. I think the main problem is there's just too many people around here and there's just a certain amount of space on the road and half the people driving don't even know how to drive anyway. I mean, they can add new lanes, like on ROSEMONT, but there's just too many people for the amount of space that we have on our roads.
People can complain and whine but the sooner they realize that and the engineers get out there and try and open more lanes the darn roads are still going to be backed up.
See you later there, rubberneck.
RW: Hey, Road only rubbernecks with the best of 'em.
How perceptive you are, Jim. Maybe you should be running for the City Council?
Cathy, Kempsville. I just wish that you would remind the drivers that when you make a U-turn you're supposed to yield to other drivers.
At PRINCESS ANNE and OVERLAND, people seem to think that they own the road. If you're on Overland making a right-hand turn, I have been almost hit many times with horns blasting at me because people making a U-turn seem to think that they have the right of way.
When you're making a U-turn you are supposed to be yielding to other traffic in all directions.
RW: I have some bad news for you. There's a reason people have been honking and cursing you. Simply put, you're dead wrong about those U-turners.
First, if you're a right-turner, you can only turn right after you stop and yield to other traffic and that includes folks who are making a left without a stop sign to do a U-turn. In other words, they have the right of way because you're supposed to stop and yield first. Now, if it were a traffic signal situation, which it isn't, and you have the red light you still have to yield before you turn. In that case, those turning left have a green light meaning they also have the right of way over you.
If you have a green light, those in the left turning lane will have a red light meaning they can't go anywhere.
That's the correct scenario. If you both had a stop sign it would be first come, first served.
Now, the 1994-95 Virginia Driver's Manual says when it comes to two vehicles coming to an ``uncontrolled'' intersection, or one without signs or a signal, the person on the left must yield to the person on the right.
Carlo Digiovanni, no address given. I have a problem with the intersection of BONNEY ROAD and SOUTH FIR AVENUE involving a view obstruction or a very short line of sight.
The view obstruction happens to be a surveyor's office and the city and the surveyor don't seem to know what a line of sight is. It's obstructed and it's dangerous.
RW: Road knows that area and understands that there would be a problem for those on South Fir trying to turn left onto Bonney Road. The problem actually is caused by a slight curve in the road on Bonney, which makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic when you're trying to turn off South Fir.
Engineers and the surveyors office realize there's a problem and they're working together to come up with an equitable solution for everyone.
Linda Horst, Lee Highlands Boulevard. They've used our road as a detour because they've torn up that little bridge on SOUTH CLUBHOUSE ROAD.
These people are flying down this road thinking it's Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Just thought maybe we could get some help out here from the police and try and stop these people from speeding through here. Thanks.
RW: Well, Linda, you and everyone else in the city are after extra police enforcement and it's just not realistic. Road knows that's not the answer you want to hear but the bottom line is there are just not enough cops to go around. Maybe one of them will see this and take pity on your plight. Usually all it takes is one day of radar and folks tend to get the hint about speeding. Road'll keep my fingers crossed for you. 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