where do I begin?
am I surprised?
no.
why?
because since we moved to Strasburg more than 7 years ago, I've seen some of the worst driving in my life (we're in our mid-seventies). young people seem to be the worst.
why is that so?
I don't know. Strasburg High School is not a small school. In 2021 SHS had an enrollment of 606 students. I've personally witnessed speeding, racing and reckless driving on Ram Drive--the driveway into SHS.
am I blaming Strasburg High School?
no. the school itself is not the problem. neither are most of the students. there are other factors. but, SHS could be part of the solution.
what else?
many roads in Shenandoah County are narrow, curvy and hilly rural roads with no shoulders. a 55 mph speed limit is too high for some segments of these roads. Since most are relatively low traffic volume, there's virtually no law enforcement.
bottom line is this: a 66 year old Strasburg man was struck and killed by a 19 year old Strasburg resident in broad daylight. Had he just retired and was enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon riding his bicycle in the countryside? I don't know. What I do know is that now he's dead. what a terrible shame!
I can't imagine what effects that this tragic event will have on the driver of the vehicle that struck and killed this man. I can't imagine what it would be like to know that I had killed a completely innocent man. God help him.
Something should be done about the unlawful and dangerous speeding, tailgating and reckless driving that I see in Strasburg and its surrounding area every day. In addition to the police, one would think that VDOT and Strasburg's mayor and town council would be involved in solving this problem. I do know that a 55 mph speed limit on many of these rural roads is too high where they are narrow, curvy, steep, and shoulderless.
attribution: scoutnurse and flickr
