THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 20, 1995 TAG: 9511160023
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
I commute from Norfolk to Portsmouth every day because I work at the Norfolk Naval Base. I utilize Hampton Boulevard and the Midtown Tunnel between 5 and 5:30 p.m. in an effort to return home from my job.
The HOV-3 entrance to the midtown tunnel is indeed a joke. Many people seem to think they do not have to wait their turn to enter. These same people will butt in line anytime someone allows them to.
I have come to the conclusion that these single-occupant drivers either cannot read the HOV-3 signs or perhaps they cannot count. In any event, my solution to this problem: I do not allow any vehicle in front of me with fewer than three occupants.
If everyone followed this very simple rule, traffic would flow more efficiently and people like me would not get angry with the line jumpers. The people who allow the line jumpers in are the ones who make the HOV-3 concept a failure.
I often notice the Norfolk police and the state police sitting at the side of the road. I do not know if they stop motorists who disobey the law or if they are doing spot checks. Of course, the single-occupant line jumpers will not use the HOV-3 lane while the police are watching. The only way the presence of police will help is if the police are watching every day.
RUTH EDWARDS
Portsmouth, Oct. 25, 1995 by CNB