From the National Park Service Morning Report:
Blue Ridge Parkway – A traffic study launched in 2001 identified particular
locations and times where accidents most typically occurred. The park then began an innovative signing and
targeted patrol program that has since cut the number of annual accidents
nearly in half, down from over 450 in
2000 to just over 250 last year.
This effort started in 2000 involved Park Rangers identifying
a concerning trend in the increase of motor vehicle accidents on the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Rangers worked on
an interdisciplinary team with Engineers, Landscape Architects,
Dispatchers, and others to identify locations where accidents were revealing
patterns. One example was at Mile Post
36.5 where there were over a dozen motorcycle accidents in the same curve
within one year. During the following year there were zero accidents at
this location.
The plan included three elements; education, signage, and
increased enforcement.
What is not shown in the above morning report entry is that
due to more aggressive enforcement of traffic regulations the number charges
for more serious crimes such as driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, distribution of drugs, etc. also went up significantly.
After approximately two years of this work by Rangers that
was not popular at times unpopular with the public, the crime rate turned
decreased significantly.
Why did this happen?
I believe there was a change in the perception of local communities and
violators. In the past I had heard many
times that people were using the Blue Ridge Parkway as a travel route because
they did not think they would get caught.
Once the number of violation notices and arrests went up, that
perception changed.
So not only did the Blue Ridge Parkway make a significant
impact on the number of serious motor vehicle accidents the were causing
personal injuries, property damage, and at times death, they made the Park a
much safer place to visit.
I credit the Chief Ranger at the time Gordon Wissinger and
his Assistant Chief Ranger John Garrison for not only taking a leadership role
in developing this plan of action, but standing by it at times when certain
members of the public and politicians did not like the increased enforcement
actions being taken. They are both
examples of what a good manager can still accomplish in our National Parks.
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| Examples of more aggressive signage that was developed for high accident areas. |
I agree that laws to protect the public have to be strictly enforced to be effective. People obey laws when: a) they know they will be caught if they don't, and b) the "cost" for not doing so is high.
ReplyDeleteI agree, too, but some believe its for revenue and interferes in personal liberty.
ReplyDeleteJust for your information. When violation notices are issued by National Park Rangers not one cent of the fines paid go to the Park Service. It all goes to pay for the court system and the general Federal treasury. Consequently, there is no financial incentive or emphasis for National Park Rangers to write tickets. It is viewed as one of many tools that can be used to accomplish the Agency Mission of protecting resources and visitors to our parks.
ReplyDeleteThe money may not stay with the Park Service, but the tickets are yet another example of government, in this case federal, reaching into our pockets.
ReplyDeleteWe are taxed enough without being harassed on the roads for penny-ante violations. Save the traffic citations for the most egregious offenders, and leave honest, hard-working tax payers who happen to go a little too fast alone.