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If a stretch of Virginia road has seen the death of over 80 people, should officials do something to make that road safer? The recent death of an elementary school teacher on Shore Drive has resurrected the debate about this well-traveled road’s safety.
It is not news that Shore Drive, a busy stretch of road along the Chesapeake Bay connecting Norfolk and Virginia Beach, is unsafe. Until a few years ago there were signs along the road warning motorists and pedestrians that 81 people had died on the road since 1977. Since those signs were taken down, the number of Shore Drive auto accident deaths has risen.
Why is Shore Drive so dangerous?
One issue is that there are a number of popular bars along Shore Drive. There are bars are on both sides of the road, which requires patrons to cross the busy street to visit different establishments. Without nearby cross-walks, patrons – who have often been drinking – will try to cross without using an official crosswalk. This puts their lives – and the lives of road users – at risk.
Can Shore Drive be made safer?
Suggestions for making Shore Driver safer have included lowering the speed limit, putting in additional cross-walks and traffic lights, and installing better lighting. Authorities are quick to point out that engineering changes can’t alter human behavior, as the real problem in some of the auto accident fatalities is really human behavior.
However, a poorly lit section of road littered with bars and popular with drinkers is a recipe for disaster. Until more is done to make Shore Drive safe it is likely that more pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycle riders and car and truck drivers will be injured or killed along this roadway.
Help for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Portsmouth Car Crash Victims
If you’ve been hurt in a Virginia car crash because of a negligent driver or a poorly designed road, you deserve justice. Contact the Norfolk based attorneys at Weisberg & Zaleski to find out how we can help you secure fair, just compensation for your suffering and injuries.
Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223