THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 28 lines
I have been living here in Hampton Roads for almost 10 years. I like this place so much, I decided to settle here. I moved my fiancee up from Florida with promises of a town full of friendly people.
A few weeks ago she brought to my attention how rude the drivers are in this area. At first I gave the excuse that almost half of the people who live here are from somewhere else. Being a military town, we have a lot of diversity, including styles of driving. She drives like someone from Pensacola, and I like someone from Richmond. She bought my lame excuse, but even I believed it at the time.
On a recent Friday afternoon, I left work a little earlier than normal. Doing 70 mph on 64 East and 44 East (55-mph zones), not only was I being passed on both sides by everyone on the road, including 18 wheelers, I was being tailgated so close that I could not see the person's bumper in my rear-view mirror.
What is going on here? Where are the police?
I am writing this letter as a plea to the good citizens of Hampton Roads: Please slow down; don't tailgate; and respect other people.
JERRIS LEE BENNETT
Virginia Beach, Jan. 3, 1997