State ignores deadly stretch

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: July 5, 2008

Unquestionably, the intersection at U.S. 29 and Ashwood Boulevard requires improvement.

That is where 16-year-old Sydney Aichs was killed by a tractor-trailer that, according to police, ran a red light at the intersection as Ms. Aichs was turning left onto U.S. 29.

Ultimately, that intersection needs reworking.

The traffic light was placed in a decline between two small hills. Whether northbound or southbound, drivers may not be able to see that the light is red until it is too late to stop.

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s own findings show that sight distanced is about 20 feet short of the state standard. And, according to a department report, there were 102 crashes at the U.S. 29-Ashwood intersection from 2003 to 2007, resulting in 47 injuries.

At least one speaker at a public hearing about the intersection this week noted that the truck driver might not have seen the red light in time to stop.

But VDOT has scrapped plans to widen the stretch of road heading toward the light from Polo Grounds Road and to improve visibility at the intersection. Lack of money was blamed.

That leaves less expensive, and potentially less effective, means. VDOT has proposed lowering the speed limit at that spot from 55 mph to 45 mph.

Also, the department would install warning lights that flash when the unseen traffic light ahead is about to turn red. That would alert drivers to start slowing down before cresting the hill and being surprised by the red light.

VDOT officials said even these small changes could not be implemented until possibly later in the summer, while required administrative procedures are being carried out.

Many residents said this was too little, too late.

But more than 50,000 vehicles pass through the intersection daily. They and their drivers must be protected by whatever means we can manage at present.

Regardless of what safety improvements are implemented, their effectiveness may depend on increased police enforcement.

Albemarle County drivers already ignore speed limits and traffic lights. Consider the situation nearby on southbound U.S. 29 at the intersection with Rio Mills Road and Polo Grounds. The speed limit drops to 45 mph (it already is 45 mph northbound), and drivers have plenty of sight distance to prepare for the traffic light. Seldom do they slow down. Instead, many speed up to try to beat the light.

Police have stepped up red light enforcement recently, especially after Ms. Aichs’ death. Such efforts are necessary on a sustained basis to persuade drivers that safety laws must be obeyed.