1 in 12 Drivers Admit Driving Drunk According to Government Study

USA Today recently reported that one in 12 drivers admitted driving drunk at least once over the course of a year, according to a government survey.

One in five, or 20% of the 6,999 people surveyed, said they had driven in the past year within two hours of drinking an alcoholic beverage. Yet an overwhelming majority — four out of five people — consider drinking and driving a major threat to their safety, according to the 2008 survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Let's keep these figures in mind as the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches... and remember to arrive alive; don't drink and drive!

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Texting While Driving is Way More Dangerous than Drinking and Driving

According to a blog post by Erik Qualman on the Socialnomics website, "If you have been imploring your teenager, husband, or wife to avoid texting or tweeting while driving; you have been vindicated by results (below) from a recent Car and Driver test."

The results are frightening. At 70 mph, it takes a driver 15 feet to brake while driving drunk. Yet, compared to sending a text this is almost twice as safe as it takes 31 feet to brake while sending a text. Driving 35 mph, it takes a texting driver 25 feet before braking compared to only 4 feet for a drunk driver (6 times safer!).

* Please note that these stats are only for comparison to show the dangers of texting while driving and we are NOT condoning drinking and driving!

Source of cartoon: unknown

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National Distracted Driving Summit to be Held in D.C. Next Month

The second National Distracted Driving Summit will be held on September 21, in Washington, D.C.

Leading transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, industry representatives, researchers and victims affected by distraction-related crashes will gather at the summit to address challenges and identify opportunities for national anti-distracted driving efforts.

Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that in 2008, nearly 6,000 people died and more than half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. More than 20 percent of all crashes that same year involved some type of distraction.

So, what is distracted driving? There are three main types of distraction:

• Visual — taking your eyes off the road
• Manual — taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.

While all distractions can endanger drivers’ safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction. Other distracting activities include:

• Using a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a PDA or navigation system
• Watching a video
• Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player

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Sobriety Checkpoint in Eastern Loudoun County Tonight

The Loudoun County Sheriff?s Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint tonight, Friday, August 27, in Eastern Loudoun County.   
 
The sobriety checkpoint will be held from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday morning. The Sheriff?s Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving. 
 
The sobriety checkpoint follows on the heels of the kick-off for the National Highway Traffic Safety Association?s (NHTSA) annual ?Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.? campaign.

The NHTSA also released new data this week indicating that eight percent of all drivers, as many as 17 million people, have driven drunk at least once during the past year. The campaign, which will run through Labor Day, involves thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country, and is augmented by $13 million in television and radio advertising from NHTSA. 
 
The Sheriff?s Office currently conducts one checkpoint per month throughout the year and holds additional checkpoints during the holidays.

?Our ultimate goal is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists by achieving voluntary compliance with the drinking and driving laws,? said Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson. ?If you drink and drive, we?re going to catch you,? Simpson warned. The Sheriff?s Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving. 
 
Members of the Sheriff?s Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD will assist with the checkpoint.

"Over the Limit. Under Arrest" Drunk Driving Enforcement Underway Through Labor Day

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be running their drunk driving campaign called "Over the limit. Under arrest."

Already underway, and running through September 6 (Labor Day weekend), the crackdown includes increased police enforcement and checkpoints on the road, as well as TV and radio campaigns to warn drivers of the risks.

Fortunately, much of the tragedy that results from impaired-driving crashes could be prevented if everyone followed these safety recommendations:

• If you are planning to drink alcohol with friends, designate a sober driver before going out — and give that person your keys.
• If you are impaired, do not drive — call a taxi, use mass transit, or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely; or, take advantage of your community’s safe ride program.
• Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.
• Wear your seat belt while in a car or use a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle, as these are your best defenses against impaired drivers.
• If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys — and help them get to where they are going safely.

Since the annual NHTSA operation started back in 2003, it has been credited with helping to reduce drunk-driving accidents and fatalities. While the numbers have gone down slightly since 1994, alcohol-related crashes are still a major problem and continue to be responsible for about a third of all vehicle deaths. Almost 12,000 people, or 32 percent of all fatal crashes, were killed by drivers of passenger vehicles or motorcycles who had a blood-alcohol-content of at or above the legal limit of .08 percent in 2008. Young people age 21-24 have the highest percentage of deaths from drunk driving.

Virginia crash data.

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VDOT to Open Pacific Boulevard Extension in Early September

State and local officials today announced the completion of two important transportation projects over the next two weeks in Loudoun County — the extension of Pacific Boulevard from Autoworld Circle to Severn Way, and a new parking lot accessible from Pacific Boulevard for runners, cyclists and other users of the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail.

Pacific Boulevard Extension

This 0.6-mile section of road is four lanes, with bridges over the W&OD Railroad Regional Park and Cabin Branch. Both a 10-foot-wide bike/walk path and a sidewalk connect to the W&OD Trail the east and west sides of Pacific Boulevard. As part of the road system paralleling Route 28, the extension will help reduce congestion and provide an alternate north-south option for local traffic. Drivers may experience some lane closures and roadside activities over the next few weeks as crews finish final details.

“While the segment constructed here is a short one, it provides an important connection for local businesses, customers and emergency services,” said Helen Cuervo, VDOT’s assistant district administrator for construction. “This project represents a tremendous amount of work between VDOT, Loudoun County, the landowners, the developers, and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.”

With the design-build team including Shirley Design/Build, LLC and Dewberry, design and construction were closely coordinated to expedite the schedule — using traditional methods, construction would not have begun until 2011. The project is on time and expected to be almost $4 million under its $26.7 million budget. Donation of rights of way from Eugenia Investments saved more than $3 million.

With the completion of the new section, Pacific Boulevard now stretches from Dresden Street to Nokes Boulevard (about two miles). A VDOT public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at Park View High School in Sterling for the design-build project to construct Pacific Boulevard from Relocation Drive to Dresden Street (0.67 miles). Work on this section could begin by the end of 2011 and would fully connect Pacific Boulevard from Ox Road (Route 606) to Nokes Boulevard. By 2030, 27,600 average daily trips (ADT) are expected on Pacific Boulevard.

New W&OD Trail Parking

Also accessible via the new section of Pacific Boulevard is a recently constructed parking lot for W&OD Trail users. It features 65 standard vehicle spaces, as well as spaces for four horse trailers.

The $800,000 lot was designed and built as part of the Route 28 interchange project to replace a temporary lot constructed on Route 28 just south of Nokes Boulevard. The old lot will now be closed and demolished.

More information on the Pacific Boulevard extension and other VDOT projects is available at www.VirginiaDOT.org.

* Photo courtesy of VDOT

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AAA Study Says Dogs in the Car Are a Distraction to the Driver

From Consumer Reports:

"The issue of distracted driving continues to be in the headlines with more news about accidents from this dangerous behavior and more states banning texting while driving. Still, technology isn’t the only form of distraction. We recently covered distraction with kids in the car and now a new study shows how pets can contribute to the problem, as well.

The study by AAA, based on 1,000 dog owners who have driven with their pet in their car during the past year, found that 31 percent of survey respondents admit to being distracted by their dog. Plus, 59 percent have engaged in various distracting behaviors, with more than half the respondents said they petted their dog; 21 percent allowed their dog to sit on their lap in the driver’s seat; and others have given their dog food and water or played with them--all while driving.

Even if done for just a short time, these behaviors can increase the risk of a crash and potential injury. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your crash risk.

Eighty-percent of respondents drive with their pets on a variety of occasions, but only 17 percent use a pet restraint. An unrestrained pet can be a dangerous projectile in a crash, risking injury to itself and all other passengers in the vehicle.

"An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure,” says Beth Mosher, AAA Director of Public Affairs.

Manufacturers such as Honda, Subaru, and Volvo offer special equipment packages on some models to help keep your pet safety contained. Major pet stores and online retailers also sell restraint harnesses and other devices to help keep the family safe on the road."

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Financial Analysts Ask When Dulles Greenway Will Bottom

According to Toll Road News, traffic on the Dulles Greenway in the first half of this year was 47.3k average daily transactions (ADT) a drop of 4.3% on 2009's 49.4k and 23% down on the high year of 2005 when ADT was 61.2k. Every year in the past five years has seen a drop in traffic. And in the first half of this year revenue is down too -- by 3.8% to $61.4m/yr v $63.8m in 2009.

"The first half of this year was depressed in part by the great blizzard of February when some 40 to 50 inches (1m to 1.3m) snow was deposited on the DC metro area in a week. Adjusting for that, traffic would have averaged 47.7k, a 3.6% drop rather than 4.3% actual. The blizzard cost the Greenway, by our estimate, about $400k in revenue so adjusting for that the half year would be an annualized $61.8m v $61.4m actual.

"The Greenway has a major handicap in its poorly designed toll system. This has some 85% of the traffic paying the one toll at the mainline toll plaza at the eastern end of the pike - the tolled ramps face away to pick up traffic that doesn't use the mainline plaza. This arrangement of tolls makes for excessively high per-mile tolls for trips exiting at close interchanges or joining close to the mainline plaza, and tolls too low for long trips.

"The Greenway also lacks open road tolling. A new toll system is being considered but seems to be a couple of years away."

Read the complete article.

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Ribbon-Cutting Wednesday for Pacific Boulevard Extension and Trail Parking

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be holding an event for the completion of the Pacific Boulevard extension, and new W/OD Trail parking, this Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. at the new Pacific Boulevard bridge over the W/OD Trail.

The two recently completed projects -- the extension of Pacific Boulevard from Autoworld Circle to Severn Way, and the new Washington and Old Dominion (W/OD) trail parking lot at Pacific Boulevard -- benefit Loudoun County drivers as well as trail users.

VDOT plans a ribbon-cutting and numerous local officials are scheduled to attend, including Delegates Tag Greason, Robert G. Marshall and Joe T. May; Commonwealth Transportation Board member Doug Koelemay; Loudoun County Board Chairman Scott K. York and Supervisors Lori Waters, Stevens Miller and Kelly Burk; Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Executive Director Paul Gilbert; and VDOT staff.

If you'd like to attend Wednesday's event, take Route 28, exit west onto Waxpool Road. Then turn right onto northbound Pacific Boulevard. Attendees will be directed to tent and parking.

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Waxpool Road at Loudoun County Parkway Construction

View Larger Map

We're sure you've noticed the road work being done on Waxpool Road at the Loudoun County Parkway.

After all the time it took to remove the two left turn lanes and open up three through lanes -- which dramatically improved traffic flow -- now VDOT has closed the left turn lane and is tearing up another lane! And traffic through the intersection is now horrible as drivers head out of Ashburn toward Route 28 with only two lanes!

The morning rush, which has always been bad, is even worse. And now with the construction even the late afternoon/evening hours are no picnic!

VDOT has an informational project Web page, which notes that the "design-build project will add additional turn lanes and upgrade an existing signal at Waxpool Road and Loudoun County Parkway in Loudoun County." Tim Hartzell, P.E., 703-383-2195, is the VDOT contact.

What's your experience with the intersection? Let us know by commenting below.

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Teen Driving

Consumer Reports reports that teenagers are four times as likely to crash the older drivers, and car crashes are the number one killer of teens.

"Preparing your teen for driving involves more than classroom training and a test. It should involve good, real-world preparation, and a graduated approach to full driving freedom—expanding the hours and lessen restrictions over time, as skill and maturity develop. We have seen first hand the benefits of teen defensive driving schools. In following several teens through a program recently, they all found the one-day clinic beneficial having improved their awareness, confidence, and capabilities."

Complete Consumer Reports article, including links for teen driving courses.

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Motorists Should Expect Delays in Leesburg Monday and Tuesday

Tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday, (August 23-24) motorists can expect major traffic delays in the vicinity of the Dulles Greenway, Route 7 and Route 15 in Leesburg, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Traffic will be stopped for up to 15 minutes at a time while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across roadways for the new power line.

The periodic traffic stops are as follows:

Monday, August 23

• 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: on the ramp from westbound Dulles Greenway to westbound Route 7, and on the ramp from westbound Route 7 Bypass to eastbound Dulles Greenway.
• Noon to 3:30 p.m. on the Route 7 Bypass, just east of the Route 15 overpass, and on the ramp from Route 15 to eastbound Route 7 Bypass.

Tuesday, August 24

• From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Route 7 Bypass just east of the Route 15 overpass, and on the ramp from Route 15 to eastbound Route 7 Bypass.

No traffic stops are scheduled for Wednesday through Friday. State Police and VDOT will monitor traffic queues and temporarily suspend stoppages if necessary to relieve delays.

The work is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg. The project requires crews to string electric lines along about nine miles of VDOT roads, crossing them a total of 15 times. Periodic traffic stops will continue through mid-September.

For more information about Dominion’s project and for updates on traffic stops, visit www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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The Price of Gasoline

Consumer Reports reported earlier this week that gasoline prices are down in most areas of the country compared to the week before. The national gasoline average is $.11 above the price this time last year. Diesel fuel is about $.33 above this time last year.

In the central Atlantic area, average prices are down .03 cents to $2.71 a gallon (on average).

Don't forget, you can also find the lowest gas prices right here on Loudoun County Traffic. Just look in the shaded area at the right. We feature several gas price widgets, including the national and Virginia averages, as well as the lowest gas prices in Ashburn, Leesburg and Sterling as compiled by Gas Buddy.

Meanwhile, if you're planning that final summer trip or Labor Day getaway, you can use the online price finder on Fueleconomy.gov to find the cheapest prices for where ever you are traveling. And the Department of Energy has some great tips on saving gas, like keeping your tires properly inflated and driving at steady speed.

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Transportation Update from Sally Kurtz, Catoctin District Supervisor

Sally Kurtz, Catoctin District Supervisor with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, had lots of transportation related updates in her August Catoctin District newsletter. We've reprinted the traffic/transit/transportation related items below.

Current Projects
Loudoun County Parkway/Route 7 Interchange (County Project): The construction is well underway. Base asphalt is being placed on the ramps. Final costs are being worked out for the Route 7 westbound 4th lane widening. The project should be completed by late 2010.

Maintenance/Paving

The following road segments are currently planned for re-paving:

• Rt. 7W from Rt. 287 to Rt. 719 bridge
• Rt. 7W from Rt. 711 to Clarke Co. line
• Rt. 7E from Clarke Co. line to Rt. 1330
• Rt. 15S from Roundabout to Prince William Co. line (subject to change)
• Rt. 15/7 Bypass N&S from Rt. 15 bridge to East Market street bridge (Leesburg city limit)
• Rt. 28 N&S from Rt.7 to Rt. 625
• Rt. 50W from Rt. 611 to the beginning of duals west of Middleburg

Preliminary Engineering Projects

Route 15 North - Plan for Lucketts Safety Initiatives (CAD TBD) – VDOT staff is going through the process of securing approvals for a consultant to complete the design work. There is no funding identified to move the project to construction.

Route 15 South Widening/Leesburg Line to Woodlea Drive – This project (installation of turnlanes at the Animal Park and a bike trail from Woodlea Drive to Virt’s Corner). Utility relocation is underway.

Edwards Ferry Road (TBD) – No activity on this project as resources have been diverted to other time sensitive projects.

Route 7 – East Market Street to South King Street – Traffic data was collected in October 2009 for updates to the forecast model that will be used for any reduction in design year Level of Service and to investigate potential short term operational improvements at the Sycolin Road intersection.

Route 7 – Climbing Lane/West Market Street to Route 9 – A notice to proceed was issued to RK&K for the next stage of traffic analysis that will look at the impacts of closing the four median breaks and to make recommendations of measures to address the resulting U-turn movements (i.e. modifications to the Route 9 and West Market Street interchanges and possible acceleration lanes). Acceleration lanes are not reflected in the current project cost estimates. The Board and NVTA have approved transfer of the FY10 RSTP funds to this project as well as using FY11 RSTP funds on this project.

Route 7/659 Interchange Design (County Project) – The Board of Supervisors approved the conceptual design. Design work by Dewberry continues. County staff and the design firm have held several meetings with impacted property owners from the four quadrants of the interchange.

Lovettsville Bike Trail – VDOT is now handling the project for the Town of Lovettsville. The task order with RK and K has not been executed as yet. The Town staff requested changes to the consultant’s scope of work.

HSIP Funds – Signage, pavement markings and signal adjustments for bicycle accommodations on Route 15 from Balls Bluff Road to White’s Ferry Road - Coordination continues with the Town of Leesburg and Loudoun staff to investigate the feasibility of the Town taking over the grant in order to build a shared use path for the Tuscarora High School.

Bridge on Gleedsville Road over Sycolin (CAD Fall 2011) – A public hearing was held on November 18th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Heritage High School. Approximately 24 people attended. Most of the attendees liked the design but there were a few who commented that the project was too large and would result in too many trees being removed. There were others who supported the paved shoulders noting the benefit of improved visibility and refuge from traffic for the joggers. VDOT staff will look into accelerating the scheduled from spring 2012 to the fall of 2011 in order to utilize the full 2012 construction season.

Riverside Parkway (County Project – Revenue Sharing) – County staff is coordinating with the developer of the Fort Evans Road improvements to determine the best way to design the two projects that share the Riverside Parkway/Fort Evans Road/River Creek Parkway intersection improvements.

Pacific Boulevard – Dresden Road to Relocation Drive (CAD Spring 2011) – Preparation of the Environmental document is underway. Updating of the design plans is underway by the Central Office in-house design staff. The completed scoping documents have been sent to the Central Office for approval. A design public hearing will be held when the draft Environmental Assessment is completed. The STIP amendment was approved by FHWA on November 19, 2009. VDOT’s cost estimate of $14.5 million assumes right of way will be donated.

Pacific Boulevard – Relocation Drive to Sterling Boulevard (CAD 02/10) – On schedule. Public involvement in the form of a Posting of Willingness is completed.

For more details, contact Kurtz at 703-777-0204. And thanks to the Supervisor for letting us reprint the information from her newsletter for our readers.


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Male Drivers are "Legitimately Dangerous" Behind the Wheel

WTOP Radio reported earlier this week that statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) highlight which gender is legitimately dangerous behind the wheel.

"According to the IIHS, of all the deadly, single-vehicle pedestrian crashes in D.C., Maryland and Virginia in 2008, 70 percent involved male drivers."

What do you say guys? Is it true? Are we really that bad?

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U.S. Obesity Problem Impacts Automobile Safety and Fuel Economy

Consumer Reports reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report on obesity and found that there was a 1.1 percent increase (an additional 2.4 million people) in the self-reported prevalence of obesity between 2007 and 2009, plus the number of states with an obesity rate over 30 percent has tripled to nine states.

A detailed study published in 2006 at Entrepreneur.com analyzed the amount of additional fuel consumed due to heavier drivers. One key finding was that almost 1 billion gallons of gasoline per year can be attributed to passenger weight gain in non-commercial vehicles between 1960 and 2002--this translates to .7 percent of the total fuel used by passenger vehicles annually. Researchers also estimated that over 39 million gallons of fuel is used annually for every pound gained in average passenger weight. It is noted that while this is relatively small considering other factors such as more people on the roads, it is still a large amount of fuel that will continue to grow as the obesity rate increases.

One other result of the obesity problem is the increased risk of crashes as noted in a recent study and that is also due to the fact that obese drivers are less likely to buckle up because seat belts may not fit properly.

With the compounding factors, it is clear that the growing obesity issue is larger than once thought. So, what is the solution?

Have any thoughts or comments? Let us know below.

Read the complete Consumer Reports blog post.

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Washington Examiner Says Dulles Rail Was Never About Getting Riders to the Airport on Time

Did you see the editorial yesterday in the Washington Examiner about the Dulles Toll Road? Local opinion editor Barbara Hollingsworth writes that, "It was never about getting the public to the airport on time."

"As its name implies, Dulles Rail was initially sold to the public as a high-priority transit project that would give area travelers convenient Metrorail access to Washington Dulles International Airport, the region's busiest airport. Indeed, this was repeatedly cited as the main reason for spending more than $5 billion to extend a transit system that was literally falling apart from neglect. The slight detour to Tysons Corner was downplayed as a secondary benefit. Now we find out that like almost every other aspect of the Dulles Rail project, this too was just another part of the scam."

Read the complete Washington Examiner editorial.

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Residents Who Live Near Public Transportation Live Healthier, Longer Lives

A recent study by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that people who live in communities with public transportation drive less, exercise more, live longer, and are generally healthier than residents of communities that lack access to quality transit. These communities also benefit from reduced pollution as transit produces fewer harmful emissions than single occupant vehicle travel.

Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits, a study conducted for APTA by Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute aggregates the findings of several recent studies and concludes that people living in transit-oriented “smart growth” communities enjoy several health benefits, not seen in other communities, including residents drive less, exposing them to a lower risk of fatal vehicle accidents.

Such communities also have less pollution, because public transportation produces far less emissions per passenger mile than private automobiles. In addition, people who live near quality public transit are more likely to undertake regular physical activity than residents of automobile-dependent communities.

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VDOT Video: Driving in the Rain

VDOT has a helpful online video with driving tips to help you arrive safely on rainy days like today. Check it out.

VDOT Video: Flashing Yellow Traffic Signal

Transportation departments across the country have recently begun installing flashing yellow signals, with nearly half of all states now having at least one. In June, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) first used a flashing yellow arrow signal when three were activated on Route 60 in James City County at the entrance to Busch Gardens.

According to VDOT, flashing yellow arrows are more effective than the more common circular green light and other signals at conveying to drivers the need to yield before turning left at permissive turns. Studies have shown that after a short learning period, flashing yellow signals are better understood, better obeyed and are safer.



What do you think Loudoun County? We up for flashing yellow traffic signals or do you think it'll just be too confusing? Comment below. And visit www.virginiadot.org for more information.

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New Cost-Cutting DMV Service –- "MyDMV" to Renew Vehicle Decals and Registration

Governor Bob McDonnell last week announced that Virginians can now sign up with "myDMV" to receive state vehicle registration renewal notices through e-mail or phone, rather than getting a paper reminder in the mail. Currently, the paper renewal notice that DMV mails is a courtesy reminder for our customers. The annual cost of printing and mailing approximately 5.3 million paper renewal notices is $2.4 million. Use of automated renewal notices provides added convenience for DMV customers while saving printing and postage costs.

Called "myDMV," you can sign up for a DMV account at www.dmvNOW.com/myDMV. Using a personal identification number (PIN), customers opt to receive reminders via e-mail or phone, and can manage their DMV records without visiting an office.

With a "myDMV" PIN, you can conduct a variety of secure transactions such as renewing driver's licenses or ID cards, and obtain information specific to them, such as your driving record.

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Don't Forget -- Major Traffic Delays Today in Leesburg

Loudoun County motorists are reminded about the possibility of major traffic delays today in Leesburg while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across roadways for a new power line.

Today, Sunday, August 15, crews will conduct work that will require stopping traffic for up to 15 minutes at a time on South King Street (Route 15) in Leesburg near the Route 7 Bypass interchange, and just east of the interchange on Route 7 Bypass. Crews are working until 9 p.m. (started at 5:30 a.m.).

The work is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg.

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Route 7 Eastbound Closed at Belmont Ridge Road

The Loudoun County Sheriff's office reports that Route 7 Eastbound is closed at Belmont Ridge Road due to a crash. www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic

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Turn Around; Don’t Drown

In the wake of today's heavy rains, here's a good reminder from Loudoun County public safety officials for motorists not to cross flooded roadways.

Many deaths occur in automobiles as people and their vehicles are swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around barriers warning that roads are flooded.

Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, stop and do not cross. The water may be much deeper than you think, causing your car to stall or even get stuck in hidden debris. Six inches of moving water can knock a person down and a mere two feet of water can move a large vehicle such as a bus.

Remember: Turn around. Don’t drown.

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Can Route 15 Get Too Congested?

WTOP Radio reported yesterday that "Prince William County has widened part of the roadway [Route 15], but the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance worries that a 9-mile, two-lane stretch of the road north of Leesburg to the Maryland border could get too congested. The alliance says the Loudoun County portion of the road could carry 40,000 vehicles a day by 2030 -- more vehicles than currently use Interstate 81."

The WTOP report added that the "Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance is criticizing Loudoun County for ignoring its own traffic plan and faults state planners for not stepping in."

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