THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602080144
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
A friend who lives at the east end of Shore Drive told me about a night when she was driving home and saw, to her horror, the headlights of a west-bound car bearing down upon her. How many trees need to be removed on Shore Drive to prevent an accident in a situation like that?
Unlike the infamous ``Suicide Strip'' of Highway 58, Shore Drive is not filled with dips and rises, does not have sharp curves, does not have many side roads intersecting it and is not a two-lane road. The road itself does not create conditions for deadly accidents, and there is clear visibility for most of its length.
Double blinking caution lights upon entering Shore Drive at either end, 5-inch rumble strips, guard rails and large reflecting markers at danger spots, more police surveillance, imposing heavy fines for speeding and rigid enforcement of drunken-driving laws are reasonable alternatives to cutting 345 trees. After having talked with city traffic engineer Richard Nettleton, I still am not convinced that wide shoulders and tree-cutting are necessary to solve the problem. Is it sensible to punish responsible drivers who treasure the tranquillity of Shore Drive for the careless driving of a few?
Sandra S. Krebs
Virginia Beach
When I read that Virginia Beach has spent more money to study something that really does not need to be studied, I just shook my head in disbelief.
The study was done to find out why there are so many accidents on Shore Drive, a divided scenic road. It is one of the most pleasant and relaxing roads to travel in this city.
I don't know who came up with this bright idea for wasting our hard earned tax dollars, but it should have been immediately rejected by our City Council. Every time I hear about another study costing thousands of dollars, I wonder what all of our high priced bureaucrats are doing for their paychecks. I am sure you could ask any citizen that has used that part of Shore Drive what they think about the road and their answer would probably be, ``it is great; leave it alone.''
It seems to me that in recent years, individuals are not held responsible for their own actions. If someone takes a gun and shoots someone, there are those that want to outlaw the gun. It wasn't the criminal's fault. His father spanked him when he was young and that made him become a criminal or he grew up in a poor family and that made him turn to crime. However, during the Great Depression there was less crime than in any part of our history. So much for poor making people turn to crime.
Now our expensive study blames the trees for the accidents on Shore Drive. Instead of cutting down those aggressive trees that seem to run in front of some cars, why not put some tie down lines on those trees? Then they would not have to cut them down.
James E. Laughlin
Virginia Beach
Shore Drive through the park is safe and beautiful. It is level, virtually access free and fully divided. Accidents appear to result from driver failure: speeding, DUI or inexperience. Tree removal, expanded shoulders and/or rails cannot combat those causes and might not even impact severity.
The city should long ago have installed rumble strips and a bike path (effectively creating one shoulder) as well as high-tech traffic lines. Current markings are difficult to see in daylight and impossible in the rain.
Apparently, federal money is available to massively impact the road, but none to just improve it. That same factor played in the decision to ``improve'' the North End Beach for storm protection. Federal funds would not be as easily available in the commercial area without including the residential. It will not protect against hurricanes, just as the planned changes in the road will not eliminate accidents - but we get federal funds.
Is it time yet for officials to say ``this is right and we will do it'' instead of ``we can get federal funds so let us do it?'' Those funds come out of our income, too.
Martin L. Waranch
Virginia Beach
Our elected officials and city administrators seem to think that the only way to correct any problem or to determine how to accomplish a given task is with a large infusion of money.
As to Shore Drive, how about vigorous law enforcement?
On a second subject relative to a story about redistricting (Jan. 26 Beacon), we are told that we the taxpayers are paying for yet another consultant to tell the city experts how to do their business. The council had to hire an outsider to determine the size of majority voting districts.
We pay 11 people including the mayor (and all elected by a majority) to determine the policy course of Virginia Beach, however this collective brain trust is incapable of looking at a map.
Possibly they have been too busy developing to know where people are. I think the time has come to impose term limits in the voting booth for this whole City Council.
C.W. Carr
Virginia Beach by CNB