The News and Messenger reports that Logmill Road is to be flattened. It has been the scene of 7 deaths since 2000 and countless more injuries. The project will be completed with federal funds and is projected to be finished November, 2012.
After reading some of the hateful reader comments on insidenova.com, it seems that some discussion is needed. Many communities have stretches of road that are particularly deadly, as evidenced by the make-shift graves that spring up along road sides. Logmill Road is one of Prince William County’s most deadly. It has no shoulders. It is like riding a roller coaster because of the hills. The faster one goes, the better the effect, unless you lose control of your car or an animal darts out in front of you. The kids used to call it ‘jumping the hills’ according to family members (in-laws) who grew up out on the Mountain.
Good for the county for recognizing this problem But can this problem be addressed in other, less disruptive ways? There is a stretch of road on route 29, just as you leave Madison and enter Green County on the way to Charlottesville. I have never driven through that area that I didn’t see at least one cop car. The natural inclination there is to speed. You are coming off a hill to a flat stretch of road. And the cops are waiting for you. I always kept my speed to the limit through there and I expect they could probably built a new school or 2 with the money they have brought in giving tickets to unsuspecting drivers. You can tell those who are familiar with that stretch. Those are the folks going exactly the speed limit. they learned.
Those traveling Logmill Road could also learn this simple example. Prince William County could beef up its patrols along Log Mill to the point that the probability of GETTING a ticket for speeding is far greater than NOT GETTING a ticket. Expensive? Yes. Lifesaving? Definitely. If you know there is a good chance of getting a ticket if one is caught speeding, one soon learns to control that bad foot urge. If operant conditioning is what it takes, then I am willing to put the money into saving lives.
Increasing police patrols would not inconvenience those trying to get off and on Bull Run Mountain. They have enough obstacles to start with, without having to navigate around major road construction. Putting an officer out in the evenings on weekends from Thursday through Sunday and then a few unscheduled times could do a great deal to cut out ‘jumping the hills.’ It would also be cheaper than flattening an existing road.
And to the morons on insidenova who want to dismiss these accidents as a result of poor parenting, get a life. You can tell your kids not to speed. You can give them curfews. You can talk about responsible driving until you are blue in the face. Kids are kids and there is going to be a certain amount of risk taking,, regardless of parenting. And please remember, people have lost children, siblings, grandchildren, friends, etc. This isn’t the time to be pointing fingers.
May the friends and family of Kendra Tucker be consoled and find some peace in this tragic accident, knowing that the community does care and will try to prevent others from such a senseless death. Speedy recovery to those other travelers who were also in the wreck and who are fighting to return to normal.
http://www.brmca.net
Thanks Bruce. That speaks volumes.
This story makes me so sad, that I can hardly stand read or hear it reported on. My heart goes out to all of those in the accident and their family & friends. As a mother of teens, I can’t begin to imagine what the families must be going through. Hopefully they are NOT reading the sh!t wrote on insidenova.com.. Perhaps, the should consider turning the comments off of the stories regarding this accident. They certainly shut them down on other stories.
Unfortunately, I’m not surprised by the nasty comments on the paper’s website. When I attended Supervisor Stirrup’s Town Hall a couple of weeks ago VDOT was there to cover the road projects in the Gainesville District. They talked about two projects that really caught my attention as a native of this county and district. One project was the Logmill Rd flattening that the paper is now reporting on and road work on Mountain Rd.
My first reaction to these two projects were I can’t believe they’d try to modify a hill or two on Logmill Rd. I’m now having second thoughts on that. I believe people live on the mountain because they want to live a certain life style that we are not able to live here in town. With that comes roads that have to deal with the topography mother nature has given us. Roads in this type of area are not the “norm” for No. Va.. Anyone that’s ever driven out Logmill Rd to the mountain know this road has it’s issues and has for decades.
As a teen growing up this county when cars were CARS. I don’t remember so many accidents resulting in fatalities in the 70’s and 80’s on the mountain. Kids and those who love a good roller coaster road have enjoyed this road for decades. What has changed of the past couple of decades? Seat belts are now the law, they were not in my day.
Thanks, Bruce! Y’all have quite a bit going on up there on the mountain. Do you by any chance have the numbers on accidents prior to your moving to the moutain on Logmill?
When cars were cars? snicker. What are they now?
Laf,
sorry. back in the day i had no idea of the numbers. and yes there is a lot going on up here. Logmill feeds over 600 homes.
all i can do i practice what i preach…
b
Insidenova has announced that a second accident victim has passed away.