Keeping us safe on the road

By The Daily Progress

Published: November 19, 2008

Albemarle County police are having to crack down on drivers on U.S. 29.

Again.

Since 16-year-old Sidney Aichs was killed at the Ashwood Boulevard intersection earlier this spring, there has been a concerted effort to improve safety and enforce laws on that highway.
Police say the crash that killed Ms. Aichs was caused by a red-light runner.
Shortly thereafter, the state highway department lowered the speed limit in that area from 55 mph to 45.
Police and the media launched an education effort to remind people of the lowered speed limit — and its tragic history.

And police began aggressively enforcing the limit.
At first, the new speed limit — backed up by police presence — worked well. Drivers did slow down.
For a little while. Then it was back to driving 55 — or higher.
It’s amazing how quickly we forget.
Albemarle County police are there to remind us.
It would be better if each of us would accept our individual responsibility for driving within the law.

But if that doesn’t work, the job of enforcement falls to others. We’re glad the police are there to meet their responsibilities — and to try to keep us safe.