Letter: And another thing, Asheville drivers

Graphic by Lori Deaton

I want to thank Melissa Nicholson for her insightful letter on Asheville drivers [“Attention, Fellow Asheville Drivers,” Nov. 8, Xpress]. I was surprised that she failed to mention what I consider the greatest traffic danger on the Asheville roads — driving in rain, fog and snow with no lights! What are these drivers thinking?

Maybe it is better to say: Why aren’t they thinking? Just up the road in Virginia, you can get a ticket for driving without lights in rain, fog and snow. Please, people, pay attention to road conditions and drive responsibly and protect us all.

— Wayne Fleisher
Asheville

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14 thoughts on “Letter: And another thing, Asheville drivers

    • luther blissett

      The statute language is basically the same in NC, SC and VA: headlights on if you’re using your wipers continuously or visibility’s low. Whether those laws are enforced, of course…

      • Jay Reese

        It should be a simple matter of making the cars lights automatically turn on when the car engine is running. It’s obvious left to their own devices many drivers are to ignorant to follow common sense rules. The same goes for the engine which should have some sort of speed governing device to keep people from speeding and cameras at the intersection to stop drivers from running the red light. A GPS device on the car logging Vehicle Miles Traveled so the driver can be charged for their road use and the same GPS tracking location as a way of charging congestion prices if the drivers chooses to use the road during peak hours would help fund much needed infrastructure construction and repair

        • luther blissett

          “It should be a simple matter of making the cars lights automatically turn on when the car engine is running.”

          Canada and a bunch of European countries have required daytime running lamps for a while. Most newer cars have sensors that can automatically turn on lights when appropriate. But there are a lot of older vehicles on the road, so your “simple” solutions won’t cover those 90s Subarus and 80s Oldsmobiles.

          • Mike

            It is easy to do. ALL motorcycles sold in the US for the last 30+ years have no way to turn the lights off. My 1996 Chevy Work Truck had “daylight running lights” and many cars and trucks still do today.. but some don’t. So its not entirely new vs 90’s .

      • Bright

        Cops in Aville just don’t care…methinks they are overwhelmed by the stupidity. They don’t much care about hit and run either. …but pay your taxes!

  1. Jay Reese

    Someone could devote an entire blog or FB page highlighting the dumb shit drivers do. Given 40,000 people died last year due to the automobile you would think drivers would be more cautious.

  2. Robert Thompson

    Here’s mine: Drivers who ooze onto the interstate at 15 to 20 mph less than the traffic is moving. Not safe for the interstate traffic nor for those following these folks up the on-ramp.

    • Bright

      Speeders don’t know how to control their cars. You can’t control outside situations, but you can become a better driver. Anyone can drive a straightaway under perfect conditions. Great race car drivers don’t crybaby about obstacles, the negotiate them successfully.

      • Mike

        “they negotiate them successfully.”…

        With a sufficiently powerful car or bike and decent driving / riding skill you can pass them on the right on the on ramp.. Works great on my Ducati ;-)

          • Jay Reese

            Well data shows something different, given that 40,000 people died last year and hundreds of thousands more were injured in automobile crashes. The fact you haven’t crashed is a matter of luck not skill. Just slow down so we all can be safe

    • Huhsure

      Most on-ramps around Asheville are of an inadequate length, and they have inadequate visibility. (What brain-dead bureaucrat thought a hedge row to block the view of the highway traffic from the on-ramp was a good idea?)

      To get up to speed on them is like throwing yourself out a window blindly, hoping there’s a mat there to catch your fall.

      This is why even cops can be seen entering the expressway at less than the stated speed, on entrance ramps like those at Brevard Rd., the Haywood Rd crossing, and the Lexington on-ramp.

      • Robert Thompson

        Don’t forget the one from Clingman to I-240 and the Broadway/Market Street on-ramp.

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