THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702060142
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THE ROAD WARRIOR
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: 117 lines
Road has a friend who is down on her luck. Pregnant and barely making ends meet, she can't afford to buy a $50 to $70 car seat that would ensure the safety of her child while riding in a car.
We all know someone who, through the loss of a job or health, has hit hard times. But, you know, safety shouldn't hinge on the amount of greenbacks in one's wallet and luckily the folks at the Virginia Department of Health think the same way.
Through the department's Child Safety Seat Distribution program, parents can get a free car seat for children from birth to 40 pounds if they meet income requirements and attend a 30-minute class on installing and using a child safety seat.
The applicant must be the parent or legal guardian of a child under 1 year or must be in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Applications for the program are usually processed within two weeks and the seats are distributed at the safety seat installation class.
Applications can be obtained at any local WIC program or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Department of Health, 397 Little Neck Road, 3400 Building, Suite 100. The phone number is 631-4000. I've passed it on to my friend.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Glenda, no address given. I'm calling in reference to the comment by Wayne about the shopping carts. He has a good point, but if every person going into the store would push a shopping cart in, we wouldn't have the accumulation of carts in the parking lot. When the stores are busy, they only have so many people in there to check you in and out and most people complain about standing in line. So take in a cart and alleviate some of the problem.
RW: Good advice, Glenda.
Tracy, Virginia Beach.I'd just like to know if the city has ever thought about putting a light at the end of PRINCESS ANNE ROAD by the courthouse at the intersection with NORTH LANDING?
In the morning rush hour, noon and afternoon rush hour it's so busy it's hard to turn left at that intersection. Just wonder if they're ever going to put a stop light there. Thank you.
RW: Bad news, Tracy, there are no plans to install a signal in this area. The number of vehicles at the intersection really doesn't meet the warrants needed for a signal. Granted, there are backups but they're happening when the rest of the city's intersections back up also. That means traffic is heavier everywhere when folks are leaving for lunch and for work.
Another big obstacle to a light in that intersection is the proximity of the buildings. They're practically sitting in the road. Sorry to disappoint you.
Patricia Guld, no address given. My thing is about road kill on the side of the road when people just go past and they see a dead dog or cat lying on the side of the road.
The police don't pick them up and Animal Control doesn't pick them.
RW: You're right, Patricia, the police don't pick them up and it's not their job. Animal Control works this way: a caretaker is assigned to pick up dead animals, not an Animal Control officer. Naturally, if there's been no report of a dead animal they won't know to pick them up. On the weekends, officers are charged with picking them up if a report is called in.
Most of the time, however, officers are out doing other things such as taking care of vicious animals or strays. If the deceased animal is reported by the owner, priority is given to picking the animal up. Probably the best way is to always report road kill instead of thinking that someone else already has. Animal Control's number is 427-4158.
The following wrote to Road:
Dear Road Warrior,
Local TV news recently aired that the General Assembly was holding discussions about the requirement for turning on the headlights during rain. They got bogged down however, over ``how hard should it be raining'' before the lights are on. The discussion group was apparently numb of mind, because you don't have to be too smart to realize that if it's time for the windshield wipers, it's time for the lights. Kinda reminds me of the drivers around here because they're not too perceptive either.
Ron Brendle
Princess Anne Plaza
RW: What can you do in a case like this, Ron, but laugh?
Dear Mr. Road Warrior,
I am a resident of Kings Forest and am writing regarding the intersection of COLUMBUS LOOP and CONSTITUTION DRIVE. Columbus Loop was created by the city to be a continuous road to relieve some of the traffic at Independence and Virginia Beach Boulevard. Now they have a stop sign on the eastbound Columbus Loop, which, in essence, is giving the traffic from the apartment complex a clear shot out. I do believe I saw a man smiling as I sat there waiting for him to pass in front. It also gives traffic from the movie theater and other shops a chance to move before us. Looks like the city has it all backwards and should put the ``stop'' sign back so the apartment traffic stops, as well as all the traffic from the shops.
Norma Butt
Virginia Beach
RW: Well, Norma, engineers say they'll be out doing another traffic study, counting vehicles, to see if the area may warrant a signal. There's also an upcoming project to extend Constitution Drive through to Bonney Road, called the Constitution Drive Extension. If that project does happen there aren't many doubts that a signal will be needed.
As for the stop signs, it does seem unfair that the majority of drivers must wait to make a left turn while a few going straight get the right of way. Engineers switched those signs a couple of years back because people were confused about not having to stop to make a left and there were several accidents as a result.
Road'll keep you posted about that upcoming project and what engineers decide to do.
In the meantime, another area just down the road at the intersection of Columbus and Kellam, which also got a stop-sign switch, will be getting a traffic signal. The design has been approved and construction should commence any day now.