From an email:

Sent: Mon, May 10, 2010 10:36 am
Subject: PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS ALONG SHORE DRIVE

Dear Mr. Williams:

This is in response to your email discussing the pedestrian accidents along Shore Drive between 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.

You raised several concerns including the need for people to act responsibly, the realization that regulations cannot accomplish all public safety goals and the fact additional law enforcement is required in order to address safety concerns.  It is clear that some people are drinking to excess and then attempting to cross this major thoroughfare.  This creates those moments of “choose responsibly or consider the consequences” you referred to.  These are moments of behavior which can stymie the best intentioned regulatory or enforcement efforts.

The Virginia Beach Police Department has been closely involved in efforts to enhance the safety of several sections of Shore Drive.  Since July 2009, a safety survey has been conducted, speed limits reduced, blinking pedestrian warning lights installed and consideration for redesigning parts of Shore Drive.  A recent citizen-driven initiative resulted in the lowering of the speed limit of a section of Shore Drive adjacent to the area of this most recent accident.

Officers from the traffic components of Police Special Operations regularly work this area with special emphasis on DUI enforcement and speed limit violations.  Officers from the Second Police Precinct have also been working to address issues in this area.  These efforts include enforcement action against individual who violate the law, inspections of ABC licensed establishments and requesting assistance from the regulatory component of the Virginia Alcohol and Beverage Control Board.

We look forward to receiving any future proposals to improve the safety and accountability you mentioned.  Thank you for your concern for this important issue.

William D. Sessoms, Jr.
Mayor
City of Virginia Beach
Office of the Mayor
2401 Courthouse Drive, Building 1, Room 234
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-385-4581 (MAIN)
757-385-5699 (FAX)
wsessoms@vbgov.com