THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602030007
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
I am grateful for the timely and precise explanation of the plan from city engineers for the improved safety of Shore Drive (``Virginia Beach grapples with how to make a safer Shore Drive,'' news, Jan. 22). I feel sure that I was not alone in feeling shocked at the insensitivity of two earlier letters to the editor railing against the plan.
I live near Shore Drive and have frequently enjoyed the beautiful fall foliage and spring greenery along the route. However, the plan will not impair the view. What it will do is accomplish a degree of safety long overdue on such a hazardous road. I advise anyone who has chosen to oppose this plan to read carefully the above-cited article before jumping to erroneous conclusions.
According to city statistics, 62 percent of the accidents on Shore Drive did not involve alcohol, and 81 percent did not involve speeding. Meanwhile, more than half occurred at night, and more than half involved tree collision.
One factor that does not lend itself to being reduced to numbers is the propensity of young people to drive less carefully, but we who are adults must take responsibility for protecting them where possible, assuming we have greater vision and wisdom due to age and experience. Any road in a city with 83 accidents in a three-year period - 19 of them fatalities - is an obvious threat to less-seasoned drivers, as well as to adult drivers.
The city has managed to fund the $550,000 of phase one of the plan through a federal grant set up for eliminating traffic hazards. Phase two will in all likelihood be funded the same way.
Those who are not willing to take responsibility for the improvement of this accident-prone road will have to take responsibility for every new cross that appears on it. Everyone should think hard before deciding on this one.
S. H. WILLIAMS
Virginia Beach, Jan. 22, 1996 by CNB