John Warren
Say the phrase "right turn on red" and see how it makes residents of the Commons at Princess Anne twitch.
"Everybody's afraid of right turns," said Rita Beckman, who lives at the 181-unit senior complex near the intersection of Princess Anne and Baxter roads in Virginia Beach.
To get to the Farm Fresh shopping center across Baxter, residents must cross this high-traffic intersection. Turning right on red is allowed.
" Many of the right-turn-on-red drivers just seem to think they have the right of way," Beckman said. The answer, she believes, are right-turn-on-red prohibitions off Baxter and off Princess Anne..
Eighty-eight accidents have been reported at or near the intersection since 2006, police statistics show. In October 2007, a Commons at Princess Anne resident was killed when he was struck by a car.
T he Warrior forwarded Beckman's concern to city traffic engineers, who investigated. Mike Shahsiah, a Beach traffic
engineer, said the Beach will install "Turning Traffic Must Yield to Pedestrians" signs at all three approaches to the T-intersection, including the two right turns that Beckman wrote about.
It's a happy-medium remedy. There are heavy right-turn movements at the intersection, and right-turn prohibitions slow traffic, Shahsiah said.
"And most of the time, the drivers violate the 'No Right Turn on Red' sign," he said. "However, the 'Turning Traffic Must Yield To Pedestrians' sign has more compliance and is effective to enhance pedestrian safety."
Shahsiah said the signs should be installed within six weeks.
Downtown traffic quagmire
Reader Annabel Sacks wrote about the intersection of Duke Street and Brambleton Avenue in Norfolk. Construction of a Residence Inn at Duke and Brambleton has created "a complete mess" for traffic, she said.
South of Brambleton, Duke Street is closed. The left-turn lane on Brambleton goes nowhere. Confusion over the closures has caused crazy driver behavior, she said.
She suggests some temporary warning signs at Olney Road and Duke so drivers know what's coming.
The Brambleton lane closure is needed to help accommodate truck traffic, said Norfolk Public Works spokeswoman Pamela Marino. The Duke closure is accommodating sewer and water line installation, Marino said. After that work's done, the power and phone companies will require alternating closures for light-rail-related work.
What's being done since Sacks wrote a couple weeks back: Marino said signs should be installed clarifying road designations. Two thousand fliers were distributed to pedestrians and parking garage patrons alerting them to sidewalk closures. When the facade work is done - I was not given a timetable - the lane in front of Residence Inn will reopen.
Is this quagmire more navigable, or should the city do more while downtown road work progresses? Readers, send suggestions.
Cemetery beautification
I'm glad to put a once-and-for-all, turnaround punctuation mark on an issue I addressed Nov. 6, 2007, about the overgrown Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth.
Buddy Sanford wrote about the condition of the cemetery after his efforts to draw attention had failed. It was so bad, trees were growing out of graves in some instances.
Within a couple of months, Sanford said much has been done. Last week, he announced a 180-degree turnaround. In addition to landscaping, he said, there's a new sign and a wrought-iron fence with brick pillars.
"You've got to see it to believe it," Sanford said. "It's tremendous."
Sanford credits a new landscaping company and Portsmouth parks director Mike Morris.
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Enforcement?
Look at the growing number of drivers who turn into improperly, either starting or ending the turn too soon, swerving across the lane, entering the other lane on dual-lane turns. People use turn signals at stop signs when the only other traffic is the vehicles to the rear who have to stop too, yet won't use their signals when changing lanes or turning into driveways. There is apparently no enforcement of Code 46.2-802 (Drive on right side of highways). I'm not sure what happed to the bumper height law - it's still on the books but it too doesn't seem to be enforced. Last night, as I was driving home from the store a car tailgated me up a 30mph street (where traffic is regularly 45-60mph). When I got into the turnlane and the could see the tailgater - it was an 'unmarked' police car.
Yield signs and right-on-red
The previous post implied (possibly just due to the way the sentence was constructed) that you must come to a complete stop at a yield sigh. This is not the case. Yes, you only proceed if there is room to do so. On glaring and dangerous bit of driving that I witness on a daily basis is the pattern of some folks coming to a dead stop at a yield sign when there is a merge/acceleration lane (e.g., at a highway interchange such as a cloverleaf). You SHOULD NOT STOP. This is a recipe for getting rear ended. These "merge" lanes were designed to allow you to accelerate up to highway speed and merge with the flow of traffic. The proper procedure is to roll past the yield sign (staying in the merge lane) and yield as you are changing lanes from the merge lane to the travel lane.
As for red right-turn arrows, they DO NOT prohibit right turn on red. Right turn on red is always allowed in Virginia unless prohibited by a sign. For any right on red, you must come to a complete stop and determine whether or not it is safe to proceed.
Misconception
Like the first commenter noted, people around here have a very skewed idea about such things as yielding and turning right on red. There is a misconception that when you approach a yield sign that you have a right to enter the flow of traffic - regardless if there is an opening or not. Same with turn on red... there is supposed to be a full stop and then proceed if there is room. Even when people actually come to a pseudo-stop, they just bust right out. Of course, people also believe that all traffic lights are open to turns on red, despite red arrows and signage to the contrary. What ever happened to driver's education?
Put up a sign, hope for appeasement
The road infrastructure is designed with vehicle traffic as the primary focus. Bicycle and pedestrian safety are clearly secondary. As stated "There are heavy right-turn movements at the intersection, and right-turn prohibitions slow traffic". The concern is for vehicles to be able to turn right, anything in the way is they're own fault.
My question is, if they put up the signs, is there going to be enforcement to follow it up? At least prior to an accident rather than after?
Right Turns Sign
"6 Weeks To Install A Yeild To Pedestrian Sign." Sounds like a cheap and long-winded pulp novel. Why six weeks?
VB definition:
RIGHT TURN ON RED: Approach intersection at a high rate of speed. Look to left for oncoming traffic while placing foot near brake pedal. If at least one car length exists between vehicles place foot back on gas pedal and continue through turn. Turn head back in the direction of travel and react to vehicles, pedestrians, or other inconveniences that may delay your arrival at your destination.
I sometimes cross PA at Dam Neck to get to the ampitheater. It can be a near-death experience.