Was 70 mph a bad idea?
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Local officials don't think so, even after recent crashes on area stretch of I-81
By Preston Knight -- pknight@nvdaily.com
WOODSTOCK -- The last few days have been busy for Shenandoah County emergency personnel on Interstate 81.
Or, as some people may feel, it's been like old times.
Four notable crashes in a 10-mile stretch since Thursday afternoon -- there were two that day, one on Friday and a tractor-trailer overturned Tuesday morning -- may have been the most in such a short period of time since the Virginia Department of Transportation raised the posted speed limit throughout most of the jurisdiction to 70 mph last the fall. Official crash data, though, is not yet available for the past few months, although for all of 2010, there were 29 fewer crashes in the county than a year earlier, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
The DMV does not track road-specific crash data.
However, speed is not necessarily always the culprit. On Friday and Tuesday, for example, it appeared to be driver fatigue, said Sgt. F.L. "Les" Tyler, a state police spokesman. Felton L. Joseph, 59, of Pearland, Texas, was charged with reckless driving on Tuesday after overturning his tractor-trailer hauling tea on the right
shoulder at southbound mile marker 284. There were no injuries.
Based on what local officials have observed, after roughly nine months with the new speed limit, nobody appears to have found a reason yet to change their original impression on 70 mph.
"I don't think there is any good evidence that the interstate is more dangerous now than it was before or even that actual speeds have increased at all," said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, who favored the move. "VDOT made the determination about which areas could safely support the speed limit increase, and I think we should wait and see additional data from them before we jump to any conclusions."
Shenandoah County Fire Chief Gary Yew said he has always thought the increase was a mistake. He is concerned about public safety, particularly in peak travel times, such as the current summer vacation period.
"The more serious crashes over the years, they certainly have been attributed to speed," Yew said. "I can't help but think it compounds our problems."
VDOT spokeswoman Sandy Myers said her agency is waiting to collect data for a three-year period before reviewing the effectiveness of the speed limit change. She echoes Gilbert in stating that it's too early to make any conclusions.
The data, when available, may not matter for some people. William Pence, president of Appalachian Freight Carriers in Edinburg, said 65 mph is fast enough for truckers, so the hike to 70 mph did not sit well with him. Drivers in his company, though, are directed to set their speed at 67 mph, which conserves fuel.
"And that's fast enough for trucks," Pence said.
He said too many crashes involve truck drivers speeding and following too closely, and that was before they were granted the opportunity to travel faster.
"Any rear-end collision involving our drivers," Pence said, "they're outta here."
The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the increase last year. District 1 representative Dick Neese said his opinion hasn't changed and his concern for I-81 is so great that whenever he must make a Harrisonburg-to-Strasburg trip, he takes U.S. 11.
"I got stopped in [a crash backup] one time," Neese said. "I said there's no way I'm going to let this happen again."
The speed doesn't contibute to accidents. People are talking on cell phones,applying make-up and even watching movies on computers. I believe that 81 needs be widened because its looking more and more like 66 during rush hour.
If someone wants to drive fast they're going to no matter what the speed limit is.
I travel I 81 every day to work and have for years. I don't see where the increase in the speed limit has contributed to the recent crashes as much as heavy vacation travellers have especially out of state travellers.
Don't get me wrong....VA has plenty of idot drivers out there, but it seems that a lot of the out of state drivers are a bit more daring and reckless when traveling thru VA maybe because they might think that a ticket in VA does not affect them in their state. Could also be that out of state drivers are just more tired and should make more frequent stops to rest. Just a guess, but look at the recent crashes and tell me how many were actually VA drivers. Just saying.....
The increase in speed was sneaked in over the Thanksgiving holidays last year, with a price tag of over $300,000 as I recall.
Of course what else would we do with our surplus? Drivers were already traveling that speed and now they are going even faster!
Just a couple months ago, I actually observed a driver reading some hand held book while driving over 70 miles an hour on I-81. I followed at a safe distance, but long enough to know it wasn't a mere glance at a map.
These roads are so dangerous, I avoid them when possible. Yes we have idiots who will take these risk anyway but we didn't have to give the speeders more encouragement.
Regarding William Pence and his statements: he should be commended for his views!! I travel 81 all too often, and it's refreshing to know that someone in the trucking industry has such a good grasp of the situation. Thank you Sir!!!
Although this is a nice hit piece, it lacks evidence that speed is a contributing factor. I have seen no increase in speed, people traveled 70-75 before and they travel 70-75 now.
The only thing the increase has done for the state is make them more money, since it is now only 10mph to the reckless driving threshold versus 15mph prior.
Amen. Posting the speed from 65 to 70 did not make a difference. Most traveling before the increase were already doing 70 anyway, it more so in my mind just made it more okay. Having a speed limit doesn't force people to drive at that speed. Accidents happen from poor decisions and people just plainly not paying attention.
Of course raising the speed limit to 70 MPH was a bad idea. When the speed limit was 65 troopers weren't enforcing the limit until a motorist blew past where they were reading, doing 10 or more MPH over the limit and they never seem the lease bit interested in motorists who follow too closely. I frequently travel I-81 from Winchester to Staunton and on a trip of that relatively short length I still see an array of driving styles and bad habits.
Drivers distracted by cell phones, passengers and a variety of other factors. Some motorists driving as slowly as 60 MPH with others pushing the envelope at 80 MPH or more. Tailgating, changing lanes frequently, often without signalling. Add speeding to the mix and it's a recipe for disaster.
What about the constant change in speed limts from Toms Brook to Winchester? Could this be a factor? Take this relative small stretch of I81 -- The speed limit at Toms Brook is 70, changes to 65 at Strasburg, goes back to 70 after Strasburg, down to 60 in Winchester -- and then back to 70. I would love to know the "experts" thoughts on how these speed limits changes effect the flow of traffic. I see some traffic traveling at 70 (but usually faster than 70) no matter where they are (whether the speed limit is 60, 65 or 70). Bottlenecks occur when those doing the constant speed of + 70 are trying to pass those people actually doing the speed limit (or in some cases, slower than the speed limit). Then, there are people that think the left lane is their own personal cruising land -- and everyone should stay behind them -- tempers flare and road rage begins!
Add the various speed fluctuations to two other factors: The truck scales and I66's entrance and exit ramps. These 2 places are disasters waiting to happen!
Has anyone else wondered about this? I travel I81 for work -- and am concerned I'll "meet my maker" one day because of a traffic accident on this stretch of road.
I'm no expert, but would love to see other comments.
Increasing the speed to 70 is one of the worst decisions the General Assembly has ever made. This just gives drivers who habitually speed and break the law an open gate to take the speed to the max.
We don't live in the flatlands. Get real!
Im on 66 more than 81 an dI set my cruise at 80 and people fly by me giving ME the finger and acting as though IM going too slow. I often wonder if Ill get a ticket and Im prepared to tell the officer that Im the slow one. I feel almost run down on a daily basis. And going 80 would only take a split second of non concentration for me to wreck. I think 5 miles over is good..beyond that ticket the person. More police presence is needed. I dont see many cops on 66 until I get up around Gainesville where the traffic is backed up anyhow so they are not seeing the recklessness until that point. Honestly I think 65 is plenty for a speed limit with 70 being the max before a ticket.
I think if you have to go better than 80 mph to get where you need to go you are not leaving early enough. I leave two hours before I need to be at work. That allows me time for traffic backups, possible wrecks, consrtuction, detours whatever
I-81 is a dinosaur. It's over 40-years old and was originally designed for 15% truck traffic. The current truck traffic is more than double that amount and passenger vehicle traffic is more than three times the orginal design. Troopers were not pleased with the increased speeds. One thing most people don't realize is than reckless driving is 20 MPH over the posted speed limits OR 80MPH. On I-81, 80 MPH will get you a reckless driving citation. The only way to have a functional law is to enforce it. More police = less speeders = less accidents.
I drive 81, 66 and 495 on a daily and weekly basis. besides the obvious volume issues, there is the fact that a majority of American drivers refuse to move to the right when they're not in a passing situation. Slow drivers hang in left and middle lanes of 66 and 495 like cows strolling to the milk parlor. They're known as suicide lanes because of that mentality. We all need to live together, so a bit more use of turn signals, slower traffic to the right, and respect for johnny-law would make life much easier for all.
People were already doing over 70 before it was the speed limit. Now they think they can go even faster. And they can because it's not enforced. Too many people in a hurry without any regard to other's safety. Also too many doing everything but driving, like texting, talking, doing their make-up, etc. People in the passing lane need to either pass, or get out of the way. I drive the speed limit, pass and move out of the way. But I don't appreciate people trying to "push" me out of the way when I am passing. I'm not going to drive dangerously or stupidly becuase some moron behind me is in a hurry. I don't linger or take 20 minutes to pass someone. I understand people's frustration when there is someone that does that, but it doesn't mean that every car doing the speed limit while passing is doing it. When people don't leave adaqueate following space between vehicles, that's when multi-car pileups happen. It's a highway, not a racetrack. And cars are meant to be driven safely, not used as a phone booth or deadly weapon. Too many innocent people are dying because of other's stupidity and ignorance.
I couldnt agree more. On 66 I will pass someone and while I am the car behind me will be so closely following I cant see their lights or front of their car. I had one lady get right up on me..swerve backa nd forth flash her lights an dwhen I finally gave her the time of day and looked in my rear view she motioned for me to get over as though that wasnt what I was plannin on doin. Utterly aggravating. I see cops when I dont need em. Not for people like her.
Several years ago the watermelon smashing comedian known as Gallagher had an interesting idea for public identification of bad drivers. He suggested arming every licensed driver with gigantic versions of the children's toy gun that shot suction cup tipped projectiles. The suction cups would be filled with super glue and when you witnessed a driver doing something stupid you would permanently tag his vehicle with one of your projectiles. When motorists saw a car wearing a large number of "tags" you would automatically know to be extra cautious while driving near them.
Pretty tough to explain your innocence when your vehicle was decorated with 20 or 30 king-sized suction cupped projectiles.
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