How many must die on I-81? An open letter to government leaders

The Hagerstown Herald-Mail ^ | July 6, 2016 | Andy Bruns

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Dear Gov. Hogan, Rep. Delaney, Rep. Shuster … somebody:

I'm Andy Bruns, and I run The Herald-Mail. I need to tell you something disturbing about myself.

At least 10 times a week, I put a bullet in the revolver, spin the cylinder, put the gun to my head and pull the trigger. One of these days, the gun will go off. My friends and family will be devastated, and my children will be fatherless. No, I’m not suicidal. I, along with thousands of others in the region, simply commute to work on Interstate 81. The gun is only a metaphor, but the reality is no less deadly.

What will finally get your attention so you do what's necessary to ease the congestion with more lanes? It seems to me that we’ve lost enough lives on this stretch of highway. I know I’m being overly dramatic, overly cynical, and likely overly critical as there are other factors. But I honestly don’t know what else to do, and we have to do something — and quickly.

I know people drive too fast. I know there are a lot of trucks. I know we could write more tickets. I know we could be less distracted. I know we could always wear seat belts. I know all these things. We should address each one of them. But I also know that I-81 has way too much traffic for only two lanes in each direction.

Sweat and concrete, that’s all we’re asking for. It’s not too much to ask, because we’re paying for it with our lives. A week ago today, 21-year-old Jasmine Renee Rafter was tragically taken from us when the combination of rush-hour traffic and the steady flow of commerce once again produced a deadly result.

Let’s make this beautiful soul the last we lose before at least committing funds to widening the entirety of I-81 in Maryland. Although $45 million has long been set aside to widen the bridges over the Potomac River and the short distance north to the first exit in Maryland, there are miles more to go with no money in sight. The languid pace of highway construction and legislative oversight already doom us to wait years from the time dollars are allocated.

Andy Bruns,

Publisher, The Herald-Mail

[BenLurkin]

Mr burns,

Your chances of dying on any road in America are minuscule compared with Russian roulette.

Your dot can tell you with the actual fatalities per motor vehicle miles on this or any other stretch of road the own. Look into it and you may be surprised at how many tens of thousand, possibly hundreds of thousands, of people drive that road without death, injury, or property damage.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Nifster]

If he is really doing that he is extremely mentally ill

[kiryandil]

To be fair, driving on corridors like this is like being in the trench on the Death Star.

"The weak will be killed and eaten."

[SamAdams76]

I’m more familiar with the I-81 stretch between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, PA. That is a rough stretch as well. Way too many trucks, especially at night. I’ve always been an advocate of widening all the interstates and giving the trucks their own dedicated lanes to drive in.

[Balding_Eagle]

The said state of our roads is but one piece of evidence that we are being lead by incompetent fools who hold us taxpayers in contempt.

[left that other site]

Oh PUH-Leeze.

I-81 is the route I took every year to go to DC for Rolling Thunder, on a motorcycle, from Boston, and I am an old lady.

To compare it to Russian Roulette is histrionic and wussy.

[maine-iac7]

If he is really doing that he is extremely mentally ill

Did you not take time to read before opining - or do you have a serious reading comprehension deficit?

[N.E.Nan]

Follow the money! Has the transportation fund been raided in Maryland; have the set asides been moved to the general fund? After all,this is Maryland.

[al baby]

Metaphor

[fireman15]

I-81 must be a pretty decent commute compared to the parking lots that the freeways around here turn into much of the day. Very few people get killed while they are travelling between zero and five MPH for hours on I-5 or the 405.

[PLMerite]

A shovel-ready job I guess Obama missed.

[McGruff]

Check out how much tax is in the price of gasoline. The roads should like glass.

[COBOL2Java]

If you've never driven on I-81, it can be a nightmare for automobile drivers. 18-wheelers pretty much "own" the road, and there are a select few that don't take kindly to "4-wheelers".

Here's some advice for I-81 drivers in Virginia:

Source: 5 Crucial Safety Tips for Driving on I-81 in Virginia

Be Patient and Cautious Around Tractor Trailers

I-81 is a major thoroughfare for trucks carrying products from the northeastern United States to states in the south and west. As a result, between 19% and 40% of all vehicles that travel I-81 are trucks. However, the interstate was originally designed to accommodate only 15% truck traffic. The high number of tractor trailers traveling I-81 poses a unique danger to passenger cars. Tractor trailers are much heavier than passenger cars. Therefore, they cannot accomplish tasks like braking, turning, or switching lanes as quickly as you can. Here are some facts to keep in mind when you are sharing the road with tractor trailers.

• The average passenger car weighs around 5,000 lbs. An 18-wheel tractor trailer can weigh up to 40 tons (80,000 lbs).
• Due to the difference in weight, a tractor trailer needs about 40% more time to stop than the average passenger car.
• A car traveling at 55 mph needs about 225 feet to come to a complete stop. A semi-truck needs 335 feet.

The best things you can do to ensure your safety when traveling near tractor trailers are to remain patient and maintain a large distance between your car and tractor trailers.

Follow these Safety Tips Around Tractor Trailers and Semi-Trucks

VDOT reports that 35% of all I-81 accidents are tractor trailer accidents. To avoid becoming part of this statistic, be sure to follow these basic safety tips when traveling near tractor trailers on I-81 in Southwest Virginia.

• Trucks and tractor-trailers have large blind spots called “no zones.” Be aware that if you cannot see a truck driver in his outside mirrors, than he probably can’t see your vehicle.
• Use low-beam headlights when following large trucks at night.
• When being passed by a tractor-trailer, slow down to avoid any water, dirt, or stones that may spray from its tires and reduce your visibility.
• When switching lanes in front of a tractor trailer, turn your blinker on and leave it on for several seconds before actually switching lanes. This will allow the truck driver time to realize your intentions and begin to slow if necessary.

[tanknetter]

I’m pretty familiar with I81 in VA between Lexington/I64 and Front Royal/66.

I agree this article is histrionics, but also consider 81 to be the most dangerous interstate I’ve ever driven. Including I95 in the NE corridor. I’ve seen way too much stupidity, including a semi that misjudged a curve, sideswiped another semi that was stopped on the shoulder too close to the driving lanes, and kept on going (about 20 miles further on the state troopers got the guy).

Dedicated semi lanes is a good idea, imho.

[Bruce Kurtz]

Between Hazleton and Scranton, construction has been going on for at least the last 35 years. Causing congestion and accidents. I don’t think it will ever stop.

[COBOL2Java]

I-81 must be a pretty decent commute compared to the parking lots that the freeways around here turn into much of the day.

This is one reason why I-81 is a bad choice for automobiles:

[Doc91678]

I totally agree. He's got a better chance of being mugged or knocked out, even killed in Hagerstown or Baltimore.

[SolidRedState]

Dear Mr. Bruns:

Move closer to your work.

Sincerely,

Captain Obvious