Whose responsible for controlling speeding?

Suzanne Parker
Published: May 16, 2008

Without any law enforcement in sight, motorists continue to ignore posted speed limits throughout the City of Manassas. Anyone who drives the posted speed limit on some of the busiest streets — Sudley Road, Stonewall Road, Grant Avenue, Wellington Road and others — will be met with aggressive drivers who will ride on your bumper, blink their lights or worse yet, try to pass you in that single lane. Pity the person who has slowed on one of these streets to turn into a driveway. Blasting horns, rude gestures and more are the norm!

Check out morning “rush hour.” It would seem that everyone in this area must get up late for work and then feel entitled to make up their time by speeding to get to their destination. It is even worse in the late afternoon/evening rush hour.

Commercial drivers apparently think they are invisible when they drive someone else’s vehicle above the speed limit. After all, it’s only a reflection on that company or government for whom they drive. So why should they care? I know of one commercial company that took immediate action with one of their drivers for being on a restricted street as well as the driver’s lack of following the posted speed.
What about all the other bus and commercial companies that continue to allow their drivers to speed through the city’s neighborhoods? Do they not care about their company reputation or driver safety?

When police presence is visible, most drivers slow down only to resume unlawful speed in the next block. Why do we have to use our police force, which does not have the manpower, to monitor what all drivers know are the rules of driving? Why is it that when people get behind the wheel of a vehicle they have little regard for others safety and well being in a community? It is every driver’s responsibility to obey the law!

Think about whose responsibility it is the next time you are going above the posted speed limit and a child runs out in front of you chasing a ball or the elderly citizen trying to cross the street stumbles and falls. Then what?

SUZANNE PARKER

Manassas