The Virginian-Pilot
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The city plans to lower the speed limit on two stretches of U.S. 58, beginning on May 13.
The 45 mph speed limit will be extended farther west of Manning Bridge Road because the stretch is approved for industrial growth with construction expected to begin soon, according to a city news release.
The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph from 60 mph from just west of Manning Bridge Road to the Holland Bypass, the city says. That change was prompted by a high number of crashes, injuries and the four fatalities that have happened along the corridor.
The design of the highway, built to 1960s standards, also was considered in the decision, the city says.
A speed limit analysis showed that 18,068 vehicles used that stretch of road daily in mid-April and were traveling at an average speed of 63 mph, the city says. Police counted 249 crashes with 60 injuries and four fatalities from 2006 to 2008.
Signs will be changed along the road to reflect the new speed limits and data on the analysis data on speed limits will be used by police to target enforcement, the city says.
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Bus Drivers should rejoice!
So many Suffolk Bus Drivers have to do U-turns on this stretch of the road to transport our children everyday. My child use to ride one and I would cringe at the thought everyday with all of the tractor-trailers and other vehicles not even slowing down to give them a chance. Drivers - when you see a vehicle trying to get out on the highway from a business or residence - move to the left lane and give us chance to get into this moving traffic. We are not merging...we need a minute to get up to your speed too! THANK YOU CITY OF SUFFOLK!!!
FINALLY!!!
Finally the city has wised up - when I move here 4 yrs ago the speed limit was 55 and that was bad enough. Then they upped it to 60 mph!! Then Nightengale landed in my back yard on several occasions to transport accident victims to Norfolk. This section of 58 has been closed so many times for accidents for hours on end - with no way out. You see I live on what you all call a highway but you treat it like its an expressway and I have a right to be able to be in the LEFT HAND LANE to turn into MY DRIVEWAY. I'm sick and tired of everyone thinking I'm a slow poke when I use caution to TURN INTO MY RESIDENCE. Back off me because I ALWAYS USE MY TURN SIGNAL WAY AHEAD OF TIME. Understand that I must TURN FROM THE LEFT LANE. Don't you see the houses and businesses here???? This isn't an expressway where the rules are pass on the left and move back to the right....open your eyes drivers there are other reasons to be in the left lane. I'm actually one of the lucky ones. I have an actual turning lane into my driveway. Many residents have to use those little cut across strips to make a U-Turn to get to their home. Traffic clips along so fast some days it can take up to 5 minutes just to get o
Speed Limit Changes and Driving in General
Lowering the speed limit will not solve any problems with the inattentive, non-driving individuals on our roadways. While driving through the streets of Hampton Roads, you will clearly see the lack of driver education. People do not know how to merge properly, they do not use turn signals to let others know their intentions (some driver's think it is optional equipment),proper lane discipline and lane usage (crossing double white lines and cutting off other drivers), drivers camping out in the left lane, etc. No matter what the speed limit is (25mph or 60 mph), if you aren't properly educated in Driver 101, then you are going to cause an accident and most likely commit a traffic infraction that may get you a ticket. It's easier and cheaper for the city to lower the speed limits than actually educating drivers. The education will slowly take place in the form of a speeding ticket for some of the non-driving people out there. I think it would be well worth the price if every time you renew your driver's license to take written (rules of the road) drivers test again. That would be a good place to start! Also, for those of you that forgot the rules of the road, DMV has VA Driver's Man
Driver Education
Trust me. Driving through the streets of Hampton Roads, you will clearly see the LACK of driver education. People do not know how to merge properly, lack of lane discipline, drivers camping out in the left lane, etc. No matter the speed limit 25mph or 60 mph, if you aren't properly educated in Driver 101, then you are going to cause an accident. It's easier and cheaper for the city to lower the speed limit than actually educating drivers. Heck, it would be nice every time you renew your driver's license to take a road test again or at least take the drivers test again. That would be a good place to start!
bad idea
I travel this road at least 5 days a week twice a day, and its the "none driving folks" who make it worst for everybody else. They cruise 55 in the passing lane when the speed limit is 60, they use no turn signals, and god forbid the youngster on the phone. We know its all about money and not safety because if it was, there would have been gaurd rails put up where to two fatal crashes happened a few months ago. And as long as that boring road is, its hard to do 55. I hate this idea !
Sure would be nice if our
Sure would be nice if our bustling metropolis had an actual highway stretching due west.... instead of forcing highway drivers to drive North on 64.
It's all about following the rules of the road....
Since 1996, I travel 58 East to go to work and 58 West to head home every day, and I admit to being one of those who enjoy going 60+ MPH, for two simple reasons: it's a highway and I want to get to my destination. It is entirely possible to go 60 MPH on 58 SAFELY--the problem is the MANY people who neglect the rules of the road, either through laziness, ignorance, or arrogance. I have never seen a state where SO MANY drivers refuse to move into the right lane. THE LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING, PEOPLE!!! And turn signals? They are for COMMUNICATION--use them BEFORE you brake to turn, NOT AFTER!!! This isn't rocket science, and I for one will be sorry to see the speed limit lowered.
Another Excuse to Collect the Speeding Tax
Lowering speed limits has always been about generating revenue, not safety. Lowering the speed limit by only 5mph won’t lessen the crash rate or severity of the injuries. Crashing at 55mph is still a serious crash. I agree with other posters here that inattentiveness and distraction have probably caused the majority of accidents on this road. However, you can’t profit from inattentiveness and distraction, you CAN profit if you can now write tickets for going 7mph over the limit. At 18,068 cars per day, that makes this a pretty good little score. After 5/17, look for the speeding tax collectors (police) enforcing the new limit under the guise that they’re looking out for “your safety.”
speed reduction
I hope it does generate revenue. That will mean the cops are actually patrolling the roads. As far as increasing driver education, everybody knows without further education that distractions while driving such as eating, CELL PHONES and GPS devices increase crashes. It's all about personal responsibility, not more education.
It's not inattententiveness...
it's a callous disregard for other drivers on the road. Combine that with excessive speed along straight stretches of the road with as many lanes as it has, and people kill other people with their cars because they do not care as long as they do as they please.