Posted on 06/08/2010 7:50:43 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
State highway officials have mapped several stretches of Interstate 81, including several in Southwest Virginia, where the speed limit could be raised from 65 to 70 mph as soon as July 1.
The General Assembly voted earlier this year to authorize selective raising of the interstate speed limit, and Gov. Bob McDonnell concurred. The Virginia Department of Transportation has the final say.
VDOT said it will evaluate 741 miles of Interstates 64, 66, 77, 81, 95, 295 and 395 during an opening round of required studies.
A new map posted Monday to the agency's Web site shows areas under initial consideration.
Before a speed limit can be increased on a road segment, VDOT must evaluate the speed and volume of traffic, crash history, the advice of police and physical traits of the segment -- including its design speed, shoulder width, type of median and pavement wear.
VDOT said it is studying road segments in sequence starting with areas with low crash numbers and moving to areas with higher crash numbers.
One Southwest Virginia stretch to be studied right away for a possible 70 mph limit is I-81 in Botetourt County between mile markers 151 and 179. VDOT said the segment has "no significant levels of crashes and congestion."
It is not accident-free. The stretch has been the scene of more than 1,900 wrecks during a recent 11-year period, according to a Roanoke Times analysis.
In Roanoke County, no part of I-81 is currently listed for analysis to see if the 70 mph limit should apply.
This section could be studied later, though those parts currently posted 60 mph "were not candidates for study," said VDOT spokesman Jason Bond.
In the New River Valley, I-81 between Fort Chiswell and Christiansburg is pegged for a prompt evaluation about raising the speed limit there.
In addition, VDOT intends to evaluate the possibility of putting a 70 mph limit on the mountainous stretch of I-81 between Christiansburg and Ironto.
However, this area has "moderate issues with crashes and congestion" and will be studied somewhat later, VDOT said. If there is a change, it may not occur until after July 1.
Some signs could change about July 1 because analysts began work in April and are expected to finish some segment evaluations this month, VDOT said.
If safety improvements to a section of road are needed, they will be completed before new speed limit signs go up, VDOT said
VDOT, saying its goal is safety, commented on the rationale behind the project.
"Although it may seem contrary to some that increasing speed limits can improve the safety on roadways, consistency in speed among drivers is a major factor in preventing accidents," VDOT said.
"We want to create a situation where there is very little variation in speeds between the fastest and slowest drivers using a highway."
I can’t drive... 65!
In much of northern PA you cannot drive more than 45 on
I-81 or you will lose an axel.
Sammy, is that you? Eddie says “Hi”.
Alright!
Faster, Boo-boo, faster!
This is a surprise. They’re going to lower the speed on I-81 to 70? Usually it’s 85...
Add that to the open carry law, new ccw law, state anti-illegal immigration law, refusal to adopt daylight savings time, high percentage of conservatives, and this is the place for me!
The speed limit on the Washington Beltway is 55. Drive 55 and you will getrun over. Most are driving in the neighborhood of 70 with a few as fast as 90.
Cops writing tickets only make it worse as people get rear ended trying to slow for rubbernecking at the cop.
The new signs will be posted by union booger eating state “workers”, so each sign announcing the speed limit and telling when to reduce speed will probably cost at least $2500 each.
I think $2500 is a little too low.
I think you’re forgetting about the 5 ‘supervisors’ it takes to oversee the sign installation.
Oh,, and don’t forget the coffee and lunch breaks too.
Plus a potential drop in speeding revenues.
The speed limit on the Washington Beltway is 55. Drive 55 and you will getrun over.
Except of course between 4 and 7 pm (gov't commute) when in many stretches you're lucky to be going 15.
The DC beltway (I-495) is something else. Years ago I knew it to have the highest ADT (traffic count) in MD, and probably still does. One does have to concede the consistent effort by both MD and VA to keep it viable, but that is an indication of how the FHWA (Feds) clandestinely controls state initiatives on highway priorities. At the higher political levels of decision-making a few federal bureaucrats can determine or counter a host of state preferences. One area where a Governor has immense power, for it often rises to him to redress the feds. Just sayin.
Highway planning (and funding) has a profound but closely held influence on a region's future. One way, politicians at any level, get rich.
The stretch of I-81 between Lexington and Roanoke is one of the most dangerous interstates om the USA. When a couple of 18-wheelers get right on your tail and start to “double team” you on a long downgrade, you have absolutely no choice but to drive 80 or 85 MPH. I try to avoid that road except early on Sunday mornings, when most of the truckers seem to be sleeping late!
In fact, things have been so bad that a few years ago there were even reported to be prayer groups in Roanoke, who prayed for the safety of drivers on I-81.
Up yours Greensville Co. Sheriff’s Dept! The stretch of 95 around Emporia has been a cash cow for that crooked county for years as the speed goes from 70 to 65 from NC to Va.
Dang revenooers gotta make their money somehow!
The GW Parkway pretty much requires 70 MPH, and it's a 50 MPH zone.
As you may know, Virginia is the only state that bans the use and sale of detectors. There is no evidence that the detector ban increases highway safety. Our nation’s fatality rates have fallen consistently for almost two decades. Virginia’s fatality rate has also fallen, but not any more dramatically than it has nationwide. Research has even shown that radar detector owners have a lower accident rate than motorists who do not own a detector.
Maintaining the ban is not in the best interest of Virginians or visitors to the state. I know and know of people that will not drive in Virginia due to this ban. Unjust enforcement practices are not unheard of, and radar detectors can keep safe motorists from being exploited by abusive speed traps. Likewise, the ban has a negative impact on Virginia’s business community. Electronic distributors lose business to neighboring states and Virginia misses out on valuable sales tax revenue.
Radar detector bans do not work. Research and experience show that radar detector bans do not result in lower accident rates, improved speed-limit compliance or reduce auto insurance expenditures.
• The Virginia radar detector ban is difficult and expensive to enforce. The Virginia ban diverts precious law enforcement resources from more important duties.
• Radar detectors are legal in the rest of the nation, in all 49 other states. In fact, the first state to test a radar detector ban, Connecticut, repealed the law – it ruled the law was ineffective and unfair. It is time for our Virginia to join the rest of the nation.
• It has never been shown that radar detectors cause accidents or even encourage motorists to drive faster than they would otherwise. The Yankelovich – Clancy – Shulman Radar Detector Study conducted in 1987, showed that radar detector users drove an average of 34% further between accidents (233,933 miles versus 174,554 miles) than non radar detector users. The study also showed that they have much higher seat belt use compliance. If drivers with radar detectors have fewer accidents, it follows that they have reduced insurance costs – it is counterproductive to ban radar detectors.
• In a similar study performed in Great Britain by MORI in 2001 the summary reports that “Users (of radar detectors) appear to travel 50% further between accidents than non-users. In this survey the users interviewed traveling on average 217,353 miles between accidents compared to 143,401 miles between accidents of those non-users randomly drawn from the general public.” The MORI study also reported “Three quarters agree, perhaps unsurprisingly, that since purchasing a radar detector they have become more conscious about keeping to the speed limit...” and “Three in five detector users claim to have become a safer driver since purchasing a detector.”
• Modern radar detectors play a significant role in preventing accidents and laying the technology foundation for the Safety Warning System® (SWS). Radar detectors with SWS alert motorists to oncoming emergency vehicles, potential road hazards, and unusual traffic conditions. There are more than 10 million radar detectors with SWS in use nationwide. The federal government has earmarked $2.1 million for further study of the SWS over a three-year period of time. The U.S. Department of Transportation is administering grants to state and local governments to purchase the SWS system and study its effectiveness (for example, in the form of SWS transmitters for school buses and emergency vehicles). The drivers of Virginia deserve the right to the important safety benefits that SWS delivers.
*** A small surcharge($5-$10) or tax(2%-3%) could be added to the price of the device to make-up for any possible loss of revenue from reduced number of speeding tickets and the loss of tickets written for radar detectors.***
Please sign this petition and help repeal this ban and give drivers in Virginia the freedom to know if they are under surveillance and to use their property legally:
www.stoptheban.org
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/repeal-the-virginia-radar-detector-ban
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