I read another article in the Cape Gazette last week referring to a traffic study for a roundabout on Route 5 at Cool Spring/Hurdle Ditch Road.
While I've watched our county turn into a giant cluster of stop signs and roundabouts, I've not seen any improvement from drivers.
The only thing I see is the clock ticking while I'm waiting for 20 cars in front of me to get through a four-way stop (on Route 5 and Harmons Hill/Phillips Branch roads).
The study on this intersection didn't do commuters on Route 5 any favors. Why the heck wasn't a light put here? I marvel at 20 cars on either side of Route 5, each forced to stop for maybe six cars to get through. Then I get to witness how many people have no clue whose turn it is when they get to the sign! It's like living in crazy town! Who did that study? I guarantee they don't drive up and down that road.
For the most part, we don’t need to add stop signs and roundabouts. What we need is continuing education for drivers.
How many of you reading this have ever voluntarily retaken your driver test? How many of you have been required to retake the test? And finally, are you confident and comfortable when you are out driving around?
Believe me, the last thing I want is more government overreach, but if I am required to complete 20 hours of continuing education just to earn a living, why are individuals never asked to show they still have the skills it takes to safely drive a vehicle?
This shouldn't be a hard thing to figure out. It's the reason a CPR refresher is required every two years to keep the card. When you do the thing over and over, you instinctively remember the thing when you need it.
How about instead of hemming up traffic with more roundabouts and stop signs, we require drivers to take refresher courses on things like four-way stops, or how often to check mirrors? How about spatial awareness and pulling out onto roads?
Every day, over and over, I witness drivers who clearly are not aware of what they are doing, which affects every single other driver around them.
The clear resolution to the traffic problems and accidents on the roads is to make sure the people using them understand how they work.
Just think how amazing getting down Route 9 would be if even 30% more drivers were aware of the speed limit!
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