THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 5, 1996 TAG: 9607040284
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: 89 lines
This week Road would like to turn the floor over to Thomas W. Glickman, an assistant state coordinator for the 55 Alive Mature Driving Program. Mr. Glickman wrote Road a letter that was appropriate enough to run in a prime spot.
``Dear Road,
``First I want to congratulate you for the fine service you perform for our community. The fact that you are a Virginia Beach asset is truly a loss to the other cities of Tidewater, Hampton Roads, Virginia's Waterfront or whatever the current buzz word is for our general area. I can assure you that I am a faithful follower of your column - have even written or called once or twice - and your name and/or work frequently comes up in our 55 Alive Mature Driving courses. The students think you are the greatest thing going as far as traffic safety is concerned.
``I'd like to address a habit many local drivers seem to have that bugs me, impedes traffic flow and provides great potential for accidents. That is, quite simply, not making a turn properly. What I'm writing about is the local habit whereby someone starts a turn in one lane and ends up in any available lane on the cross street. That is a maneuver that I personally describe as the Virginia Reel.
``There is a section in the Code of Virginia (46.2-846), to be exact, titled ``Required positions and methods of turning at intersections.'' Without going into a complete quotation of the law, it says: right turns shall be made as close as practicable to the right edge of the roadway. Left turns on a two-way street shall be made from half of the roadway as close as possible to the center line and leave the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered. Left turns on other than two-way roadways shall be made in the extreme left lane available and after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection as nearly as practical in the left lane lawfully available. In other words, start and end your turn in the left lane.
``If drivers would follow those basic rules they would, surprise of surprises, find that opposing flows can make left turns simultaneously without ripping off a fender or two, and amazingly, others driving those routes could make right turns while the lefts are being executed. Perhaps that is too much to expect.
``It might be an impossible task to re-educate drivers, but if we could, it certainly would improve the flow of traffic through our intersections, provided of course, red light runners don't screw it up.
``Keep plugging away at them. Safe and happy miles.''
Thomas W. Glickman
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Brett, no address given. . The intersection at NEVAN and DONNA DRIVE, by the Kmart at FIRST COLONIAL and LASKIN ROAD.
There are a lot of problems with this intersection. The north and south has the right of way and east and west has a stop sign and one of the stop signs is missing.
Going east and west is terrible. It's impossible to get out of there during the day. How about a four-way stop sign? That way everybody will be able to get through.
RW: If you think it's bad now, engineers say putting a four-way stop sign in there will cause mass mayhem because most folks won't know who yields when.
Pemple Smith, no address given. Just reading your gripe about the amphitheater parking price and, as a ticket seller, I've had it explained to me that the price is an average of prices from around the country. I know from my personal experience special event parking in Norfolk, is at least $4 every time I go there. Only $1.50 per person in a car is really a rate.
So don't get everybody riled up because it's really a good deal. I've always been very impressed with the parking lot staff.
RW: I'm not even going to touch the name, Pemple. But, I will touch the amphitheater subject. It may be cheap but you're paying for something there's no guarantee you'll even get upon arrival.
Kara McDermott, no address given. I'm calling about the posted speed limit on BAXTER ROAD. It's 45 mph. I'm wondering why that speed limit is the same as it is on VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD? This is an area with residential streets on each side and people tend to go really fast.
RW: Engineers say the speed limit is 45 mph because it's a four-lane divided roadway with nice wide sidewalks and a lot of clearance to see who's coming in what direction. Also, there's a pedestrian signal at the new intersection with Centre Pointe if those kids are interested in crossing safely.
In reference to Chris' question last week: There is no law prohibiting driving barefoot. You can drive with slippers on for all anyone cares. 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