Video: Don't Text While Driving

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Heavy Rain May Flood Roads -- Don't Drive Through Flood Waters

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the area and Loudoun County officials remind residents that it is dangerous to drive through flooded roadways.

The remnants of a tropical depression will move north from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic States later today and during the day on Thursday. Rain increase in intensity during the overnight hours and during the day tomorrow. Rainfall totals of two to four inches can be expected with isolated amounts up to five inches. The peak period of heavy rain will be from midnight tonight through noon on Thursday.

This may cause many secondary roadways to become impassable. Motorists are reminded that if you find yourself driving in potential flash flood conditions, never drive through standing water on a roadway. Water may be much deeper than you think, causing your car to stall or even get stuck in hidden debris.

Loudoun County emergency personnel will be closely monitoring roadways that are susceptible to flooding as some areas may experience high water even after the rain tapers off.

To view real-time traffic incident information for roadway obstructions and closures please visit www.loudoun.gov/traffic or via your web browsing cell-phone at www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic.

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Ashburn Road Sidewalk Repair and the Loudoun County Parkway Interchange

From Broad Run Supervisor Lori Waters latest e-newsletter (September issue) comes two transportation related items of interest:

Ashburn Road Sidewalk Repair

"At last week’s Board meeting, I brought forward an item directing staff to come back with options for repairing the sidewalk along Ashburn Road in old Ashburn. This sidewalk is in severe disrepair and poses a danger to residents who attempt to use it. No HOA governs this area and the sidewalk falls outside of the VDOT right of way, which leaves the sidewalk in “no-man’s land.”

"The item was approved by unanimous consent and the options for repair will be brought back to the October 20 Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) meeting. There is no guarantee of funding, but at least we will know the options."

Loudoun County Parkway Interchange

"As you have probably noticed, the Loudoun County Parkway interchange is nearing full operation. A few details are still being worked out and several one lane road closures will take place the week of September 27 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The ribbon cutting for the interchange is planned for October 26."

For more details on either of the above items, contact Supervisor Lori Waters, 1 Harrison St. S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Mailstop #001, Leesburg, VA 20177. Telphone: 703-777-0204. E-mail: lori.waters@loudoun.gov.

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Expect Major Delays on Market Street Near Battlefield Parkway in Leesburg

Tomorrow and Monday (Sept. 26-27), motorists can expect major delays on Market Street (Route 7 Business) near Battlefield Parkway in Leesburg while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across the roads for a new power line.

Traffic will be stopped for up to 20 minutes at a time on Sunday from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. just west of Battlefield Parkway and on Monday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Market Street.

State Police and VDOT will monitor traffic, and will temporarily suspend stoppages to relieve backups should they become significant.

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.

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Expect Delays Tomorrow Night on Main Street in Purcellville

Tomorrow (Sunday) evening, September 26, motorists can expect traffic delays on Main Street (Route 7 Business) in the Town of Purcellville while large utility equipment is transported to the new Dominion Virginia Power substation northeast of the Town. The convoy is expected to travel through town sometime between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Two large flatbed trucks will be coming from Berryville on the Route 7 Bypass, exit at the Purcellville-Round Hill exit, and travel eastbound on Business Route 7 (Main Street) through the entire length of the Town of Purcellville. The convoy will turn north on Route 287 and then turn east on Bypass 7 to the new Dominion substation.

The convoy cannot use the Bypass 7 due to overhead obstructions.

State Police, officers of the Town of Purcellville and VDOT will monitor traffic queues and if traffic backups become significant will temporarily suspend the convoy to relieve the queues.

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

Purcellville residents can contact Dominion with questions regarding this move, at 804-305-9792. For more information about Dominion’s project go to www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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National Child Passenger Safety Week

Here's a good article from Consumer Reports on securing precious cargo this week, which is National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 19-25, an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of using and installing child safety seats correctly.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death in children 3-14 years old, but many of these deaths are preventable. One way to help reduce the risk is to properly restrain children every time you drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that three out of four parents do not properly use child restraints, but research shows their use does save lives. Between 1975 and 2008, nearly 9,000 children were saved by the use of a child restraint. Research on the effectiveness of child safety seats finds they reduce fatal injury in passenger cars by 71 percent for infants under one year old and by 54 percent for children one to four years old.

The first step is to choose the correct seat for your child’s age and size. Infants must be in a rear-facing seat until at least one year old and 20 pounds. But the latest research shows that they are better protected if they remain rear facing for as long as 23 months and we recommend this as the safest practice.

Once a child outgrows the infant seat, they can be moved to a convertible seat. A convertible can be used in a rear-facing position, then turned to forward facing as the child grows until the child reaches the seat’s limits.

A child should be in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they reach the height or weight limits of the seat typically, from 40-65 lbs and 50 inches. After that, they should ride in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belts fit properly, which means the lap belt lies across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt lies mid-way across the shoulder and chest (not against the child’s neck or off of their shoulder on their arm) . This usually is around age eight and when the child is around 4 feet, 9 inches tall, but will vary for each child. All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat.

Once you figure out which type of seat to buy, there are a number of resources that can help you choose the right model.

• Check out Consumer Reports buying advice and Ratings on car seats for infants, convertible seats for toddlers, and boosters for older children. The ratings assess not only a seat’s ability to protect a child in a crash as determined from simulated crash tests, but also how easy a seat is to use and how it fits in a variety of vehicles.
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just published a list of the best-fitting boosters. A well-fitting booster should put the lap portion of the seat belt flat across a child’s upper thigh and the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder. Use IIHS list as a guide for fit, but remember that children come in all shapes and sizes, so you should do your own assessment with your child in your vehicle.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also publishes ease-of-use ratings for all car seats that meet their safety and crash performance standards. These ratings evaluate car seats in four areas: the content and clarity of the instruction manual, the ease of use in installing the seat, evaluation of the labels, and how easy it is to properly secure a child in the seat.

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Task Force to Address Congestion on Route 7 Corridor

According to the Loudoun Times, state Sen. Mark Herring (D-eastern Loudoun) will "soon announce the formation of a new community task force with the goal of developing prioritized solutions to alleviate congestion on the Route 7 corridor between the Fairfax and Loudoun line in the east to the town of Leesburg in the west."

"Aside from the economy, transportation is the most pressing issue we face here,"” Herring said. "While a statewide transportation funding solution remains an elusive goal, we have had success in the past, locally, when we have identified our most pressing infrastructure needs and worked together to get projects off the shelf and underway."

"Currently, the Route 7 corridor serves 75,000 vehicle trips per day, and is expected to grow to 135,000 vehicles per day by 2035, according to the town of Leesburg and Loudoun County’s 2009 TIGER Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"The amount of traffic in the corridor has also turned Route 7 into a magnet for the most dangerous intersections in the county, according to yearly studies compiled by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office report from 2009 lists the top 10 intersections that produced the most accidents. Six interchanges along Route 7 are in the top 10."

The Times article reports that 15 businesses and community groups will make up the Route 7 task force.

Read the complete Loudoun Times article.

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FBI Reports Both Autho Theft and Recovery of Stolen Vehicles is Down

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released new 2009 statistics that finds auto thefts are down to its lowest level in 20 years at 794,616 thefts and down 17 percent from last year. However, all the news isn’t good. The recovery of the stolen vehicles also declined, with only 42 percent recovered--the lowest rate in 25 years. Over $5 billion was lost to motor vehicle theft, with the average loss per vehicle at $6,505.

One reason for the low recovery rate is that thieves are increasingly savvy. These acts are seldom the work of joyriding teenagers, but rather calculated abductions by professional thieves. That makes it harder to recover because they are stripped for parts and sold on the black market.

Just last month, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) published the list of the highest insurance claims with the Cadillac Escalade making the top spot.

Consumer Reports also offers the following tips to prevent your car from being stolen:

• Lock your car. It is common sense that many thefts happen to unlocked vehicles. The goal is to make your car less desirable than others, and a locked door is a simple deterrent.
• Never leave your car running unattended and always take your keys with you. Otherwise, you are inviting thieves to drive off with your car.
• Keep windows closed when you park and leave your vehicle. A slender arm or clothes hanger can reach in through even a narrow opening to unlock the door.
• Don’t store valuables or expensive electronic devices in plain sight. It’s best to take portable devices with you.
• Park in a well-lighted, public place when running errands and when at home. A car will be safer in a garage than in a driveway or at a curb.
• Use a visual warning device, such as a blinking light, as a deterrent. An alarm can be effective, but it is even better if the crook doesn’t break into the vehicle in the first place. If your car is not factory-equipped with these features, they can be installed at a local automotive stereo shop.
• Smart keys or a fuel cut-offs system, aka engine immobilizer, are standard on many late-model cars and can add security. Thieves won’t steal a car they cannot start.
• For advanced protection, install a GPS or radio frequency tracking system in your vehicle to help police find it.

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Will a Four-Day Work Week for State Employees Ease Road Congestion?

According to WTOP Radio, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is considering whether to implement a four-day work week for state employees. That has some across the area wondering what impact that would have on roadways in Northern Virginia.

"Any reduction (in vehicles) is going to help, particularly for workers that are in the outer areas where we don't have very high transit usage," Ron Kirby, director of transportation planning at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, tells WTOP. According to Kirby, taking just a few hundred cars off roadways is enough to improve traffic flow."

Got any input for the Governor? Let us know if you think a four-day work week for state employees will help your commute and ease congestion on our roadways. Comment below.

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Loudoun County Supervisors Endorse Above Ground Rail at Dulles Airport

According to the Ashburn Patch website, today the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors endorsed a proposal 8-1 to scrap the tunnel planned at Dulles International Airport as part of the extension of Metro's Silver Line through the airport and on to Ashburn.

"Soaring cost estimates have pushed planners at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the quasi-governmental entity charged with constructing the project, to recommend cutting the tunnel for an estimated savings of $640 million.


"The proposed change requires an additional two miles of rail construction, approval from the Federal Transit Administration and, depending on details of the changes, a possible new environmental impact study, or EIS. Tom Farley, a project representative, told supervisors that planners at MWAA were hopeful for minimal environmental requirements."

Read the complete article.

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Tomorrow is "World Car Free Day"

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 22, is World Car Free Day.

According to the car free day website, every Sept. 22, "people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighborhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society."

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Eyes on the Road for Tomorrow's 2010 Distracted Driving Summit

The second-annual Department of Transportation’s Distracted Driving Summit is set to take place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 21.

According to new 2009 statistics from the Department of Transportation -- as reported by Consumer Reports -- 5,474 people died as a result of distracted driving and 448,000 were injured. That represents 16 percent of the total fatalities, which is the same percentage as 2008. However, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood cautions that the issue is greater that what the numbers reveal as not all states document distracted driving in their crash reporting.

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Access Between Route 29 South and Route 55 to Close

Beginning this Thursday, September 23, motorists in Gainesville will no longer be able to turn right from Route 29 South onto Route 55 (John Marshall Highway), or access Route 29 from Route 55. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is permanently closing this access point as part of its Route 29 and Linton Hall Road interchange project.

Once the access is closed, motorists can use Heathcote Boulevard to Catharpin Road to Route 55, or use Gallerher Road to Route 55. Access to businesses on Route 55 between Route 29 and Gallerher Road will not be affected by this closure.

Earlier this summer, VDOT broke ground on the four-year construction project which includes widening Route 29 through Gainesville and building two bridges over the railroad tracks. Crews are currently building temporary detour roads for Route 29 and Linton Hall Road.

Once the detour roads are completed two years from now, crews will begin building the interchange. The entire project will be completed by the end of 2014.

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Finding the Money for Increasing Costs of the Dulles Metrorail Project

The Washington Examiner reports that building the second leg of the Metrorail system to Dulles Airport is expected to cost $3.83 billion, hundreds of millions of dollars more than expected -- and officials from cash-strapped local governments have little idea how to generate all that extra green.

"The price tag for the second phase of the Dulles Rail project, which stretches 11.5 miles from Reston to beyond Washington Dulles International Airport, is estimated to cost $1 billion more than the project's first phase, which is under construction, according to the project manager.

"The second phase is supposed to be financed with a combination of funds from Loudoun and Fairfax counties, Virginia, and proceeds from the Dulles Toll Road. But as county officials scramble to scrounge together taxpayer dollars, and the federal government stays mum on whether it will help foot the bill, the Dulles Rail may run out of track well short of the airport.

"Loudoun County Board Chairman Scott York said he was "very worried" about the new estimate, but said he would oppose another round of fare increases on the toll road."

Read the complete Examiner article.

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Second Phase of Silver Line Project Sees Costs Soar

According to this past Thursday's Washington Post, the second part of Metrorail's extension from Falls Church to Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County could cost as much as $1.3 billion more than original estimates, which may mean higher rates for people who use the Dulles Toll Road.

"The new estimate was provided Wednesday to members of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is overseeing construction. The first phase is costing $2.75 billion, the authority said. Early estimates had placed costs of the second phase in the same range. The new price range increases the cost by at least $690 million and potentially twice as much."

Read the complete Washington Post article.

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Expect Delays Near Route 7 Bypass in Leesburg on Sunday and Monday

Tomorrow, Sunday, September 19, and Monday, September 20, motorists will experience major traffic delays on Market Street (Route 7 Business) near the Route 7 Bypass in Leesburg while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across roadways for the new power line. Traffic will be stopped for up to 20 minutes at a time from 6:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday.

Three ramps will also be affected; the ramp from northbound Leesburg Bypass to eastbound Market Street, the ramp from northbound Leesburg Bypass to westbound Market Street, and the ramp from southbound Leesburg Bypass to eastbound Market Street.

State Police and VDOT will monitor traffic queues and if traffic backups become significant will temporarily suspend stoppages to relieve the queues.

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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Sobriety Checkpoint in Western Loudoun County Tonight, Friday, Sept. 17

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint tonight, Friday, September 17, in Western Loudoun County. The ultimate goal of the sobriety checkpoint is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists by achieving voluntary compliance with the drinking and driving laws.

The sobriety checkpoint will be held from 10 p.m. this evening to 3 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Sheriff’s Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving.

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.

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Oil Spill Closes Dry Mill Road in Both Directions

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that Dry Mill Road between Route 9 and Thomas Mill Road is NOW CLOSED in both directions due to slick conditions from and earlier oil spill.

Motorists should be advised that the roadway is expected to be closed for several hours in this area.

Fuel Spill on Dry Mill Road Affects Traffic

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that emergency personnel are currently on the scene of a fuel spill on Dry Mill Road and traffic will be affected between Canby Road and Thomas Mill Road.

The roadway is open, but limited to one lane for through traffic in this area.

Study Ranks Virginia Highway System 18th in the Nation

According to the Reason Foundation’s 19th Annual Highway Report, state highway conditions are the best they’ve been in 19 years. And Virginia drivers should be proud. The Commonwealth of Virginia ranked 18th on the foundations list for best roads.

The foundation's report looked at 11 indicators, including congestion, pavement condition, costs per mile, deficient bridges and fatalities.

An Associated Press report notes that Virginia received high marks in several categories but fell short in others. Virginia ranked first for rural interstate condition, third for state-controlled highway miles and fourth for capital and bridge disbursements. The commonwealth ranked 45th for narrow rural lanes, 32nd for deficient or functionally obsolete bridges and 29th for urban interstate condition.

The report noted that the recession is partly responsible for the improvement in road conditions: people are driving less which has helped slow pavement deterioration and reduced traffic congestion and fatalities.

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Remember to Lock Vehicles and Remove High-Dollar Items and Garage Door Openers

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to remove high-dollar items and garage door openers from vehicles when left unattended due to recent incidents in the South Riding community.

During the overnight hours between September 10-11, unknown suspect(s) entered four vehicles in the area of Spyder Place and Kimberly Rose Drive in South Riding. On Spyder Drive the suspect(s) entered a vehicle and used a garage door opener to open the garage door to a residence. The suspect(s) then entered the home through an interior garage door and removed a purse containing a wallet and credit cards. Other items taken include two cell phones and a digital camera. Three more vehicles were entered on Kimberly Rose Drive. In one case, the suspect(s) again entered a vehicle parked outside of the home and used a garage door opener to open the garage door. Inside the garage they entered a car. Nothing was taken in this case. Two more vehicles were entered in this area. The suspect(s) removed a digital camera and headphones from one of the vehicles.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit is offering residents several tips for deterring thefts from vehicles:

• KEEP YOUR VEHICLE LOCKED. Most stolen items are taken from vehicles that are left unlocked.
• Remove all items from your vehicle, including garage door openers, when not in use. When you cannot do this, put the items out of sight (inside a lockable glove box or trunk). If your vehicle has an integrated garage door opener, please try to park your vehicle in the garage.
• A visible GPS unit is an obvious target, but car prowlers also look for any signs that one may be inside your vehicle, such as a mount on the window or dashboard. Even the circle impression left on the windshield from the suction cup mount is enough for thieves to break-in. They assume a GPS is hidden somewhere inside. Please try to rid your unattended vehicle of all tell-tale signs.
• Park inside your garage, if available, and keep the garage locked. Or, try to park your vehicle near or under an illuminated area.

Residents are also encouraged to register high-dollar items such as GPS units and MP3 players with the manufacturer and have the serial number available for the responding deputy if a theft occurs. This may assist with recovering the item in the event of a larceny.

Anyone with information about the perpetrators of these crimes is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous they should call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information provided leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

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East Tysons Shuttle Service Begins Today

The new East Tysons Shuttle Service begins today, Monday, September 13.

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Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Week Starts Today

Lack of knowledge and risky behaviors often leads to crashes between roadway users. Taking time to learn the laws and safety tips can save a life, especially with area schools starting back up and many students walking, cycling and driving on the roadways.

This means bikes and cars have to obey all traffic signs, signals, lights and markings. A bicycle should always travel in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic.

Motorists are required by law to approach and pass bicyclists at a reasonable speed and to allow at least two feet between their vehicle and the cyclist. Motorists are required to use signals to notify other roadway users of intent and cyclists must do the same, using hand signals.

Whether riding in a car or on a bicycle, all safety precautions should be used, including a safety belt in a car, and a helmet on a bicycle. Cyclists can also protect themselves by wearing bright clothing, using flashing lights during day and night, and by securing loose clothing.

Pedestrians can improve safety by wearing bright colors during the day and reflective material or blinking lights at night. Light colored clothing is slightly helpful in making you visible at night, reflective tape or reflective fabric is much better.

For more information about motorist, bicyclist and pedestrian safety, visit www.drivesmartva.org or www.sharingtheroadinvirginia.org.

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Major Delays Expected Today on Route 7/15 Bypass in Leesburg

Don't forget... major delays -- up to 20 minutes -- expected today, Sunday, Sept. 12, on the Route 7/15 Bypass in Leesburg while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across roadways for a new power line. The work is expected to start this morning at 6 a.m. and last all day until 8 p.m.

Traffic stops will occur on the east and westbound lanes of the Route 7/15 Bypass, just west of Sycolin Road. Traffic stops will also occur on Sycolin Road at the Route 7/15 Bypass. Motorists heading to Leesburg can use Battlefield Parkway to avoid major 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.

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Insurance Institute Names Best-fitting Booster Seats for 2010

According to Consumer Reports, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released its 3rd annual list of the best-fitting booster seats and this year’s list shows that there are more options for parents to find a good fitting seat for children 4 to 8 years old.

The IIHS ratings are based solely on how well each booster seat positions the lap and shoulder belt, its primary function, and are not an assessment of crash performance or vehicle fit. A well-fitting booster should put the lap portion of the seat belt flat across a child’s upper thigh and the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder.

Out of 72 booster seats rated this year, 21 of them were considered Best Bets and seven Good Bets. Only nine seats in 2009 received the Best Bet award and 10 in 2008. However, IIHS found eight seats that aren’t recommended because they do a poor job of fitting with the belts.

IIHS Best Bets
Britax Frontier 85 (combination highback)
Chicco Keyfit Strada (dual highback)
Clek Oobr (dual highback)
Cosco Juvenile Pronto (dual highback)
Cybex Solution X-Fix (highback)
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (dual highback)
Evenflo Big Kid Amp (backless)
Evenflo Maestro (combination highback)
Graco TurboBooster Crawford (dual highback)
Harmony Baby Armor (dual highback)
Harmony Dreamtime (dual backless)
Harmony Dreamtime (dual highback)
Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe (backless)
Harmony Youth Booster Seat (backless)
Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR (dual highback)
Recaro ProBOOSTER (highback)
Recaro ProSPORT (combination highback)
Recaro Vivo (highback)
Recaro Young Sport (combination highback)
Safety 1st Boost Air Protect (dual highback)
The First Years Pathway B570 (highback)

Consumer Reports adds that when assessing booster fit, ask these key questions:

• Does the booster seat position the shoulder belt across the clavicle/collar bone, approximately mid-way between the neck and shoulder?
• Does the booster seat position the lap belt low and flat across the hips/top of the thighs?
• Does either the booster seat or vehicle head restraint provide some support behind the child’s head?
• Is your child comfortable and not tempted to move the belts or themselves out of position after a period of time?

See the full list of booster seats at www.iihs.org.

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Leesburg Today Reports that "Distance Pricing" Analysis Underway for Dulles Greenway

Leesburg Today reported earlier this week on the cost of using the Dulles Greenway. While a common lament among residents and elected representatives for several years, complaining often seemed to be the only effort undertaken to change the situation.

But after hearing from constituent after constituent about the frustrations associated with the Greenway, the paper wrote that "one state delegate is working to see if there is a chance for a real compromise, one that meets the need of the private company that owns the 14-mile highway as well as residents and commuters."

"In April, Del. Tag Greason (R-32) first spoke with Tom Sines, the CEO of Toll Road Investors Partnership II, to see if there might be a middle ground that would bring some relief to drivers in Loudoun.

"After looking at what has been done, or not been done, in the past, Greason said he is not sure that his ideas ultimately will result in a solution, but said he hoped it would at least start the process. Under the concept, distance pricing would be offered during non-rush-hour periods, making local trips more affordable to residents while not using road capacity critically needed by commuters."

Read the complete Leesburg Today article.

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