Slow down for Sydney

staff
Published: May 20, 2008

The “Please Brake for Sydney” signs are heartrending. So are the masses of flowers at the entrance to Forest Lakes South near the spot where she died.

Sydney Aichs was killed on May 9 at the intersection of U.S. 29 North and Ashwood Boulevard when, police say, a tractor-trailer missed a red light and hit her car as she was attempting to make a left turn.

She died at the scene.

Someone has posted signs nearby along U.S. 29 North urging motorists to “brake for Sydney.”

The accident spot has long been known by locals as a treacherous one.

Going either northbound or southbound, drivers top a hill only to be confronted with a traffic light hidden in a small dip of land. Often traffic is backed up at the light.

Flashing highway signs warn drivers that a light is ahead. Signs also warn drivers to look out for stopped traffic.

Still, drivers race along the tricky stretch of road, tailgate, try to beat the light or seemingly remain eternally surprised that the light might not be green for them when they crest the hill and see it in front of them.

The existing warning signs and flashing yellow caution lights do not appear to materially change drivers’ behavior. The lights and signs have been there for so long that they have become part of the scenery. Always the same, they are easy to take for granted.

Along the U.S. 250 Bypass in Charlottesville is a similar situation — like, but not like.

Eastbound drivers crest a hill, often to be confronted with traffic backed up from the signal light at McIntire Road.

But a flashing light warns them of what’s ahead.

Unlike the flashing caution on U.S. 29 North, this one tells drivers exactly when the traffic light ahead is red.

Drivers know for certain that they should slow down. There is no guesswork, no leeway for trying to beat the light. When the warning flashes, the traffic light ahead is stop-red, period.

This is a better display of information than that provided on U.S. 29 North approaching Forest Lakes South — even though the city situation, where the speed limit is 35 mph rather than 55 mph, is theoretically less dangerous.

But this kind of warning light might be useful on U.S. 29.

Doubtless there would be difficulties in such a project, ranging from funding to bureaucracy.

And, no, installing a new warning light timed to the traffic light would not solve all problems. Some drivers would continue to ignore the warning.

But any improvement would help.

The “brake for Sydney” signs are an improvement. They are a touching effort to help.

And they came at a tragically high cost.