From the Maryland State Police’s Bel Air Barrack:
Motor Vehicle Collision
Time: 11:34 a.m. CC No. 11-53-001194
Date: February 3, 2011
(Bel Air, MD): Troopers from the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack responded to Maryland Route 1 Bypass at Vale Road, Bel Air, Md., regarding a single vehicle collision involving a tractor trailer. The vehicle involved was a 2003 Freightliner tractor trailer, operated by Thomas Wingrove, fifty-six years old of Landsdowne, Maryland.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the Freightliner was traveling southbound on Route 1 south of the Vale Road overpass. The Freightliner, for unknown reasons, crossed all northbound lanes of traffic and entered a wooded area. Wingrove sustained minor injuries from the collision and was transported by Maryland State Police Medi-vac to R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma where his condition is stable.
The ramp from Maryland Route 24 to the northbound Route 1 Bypass was closed for approximately 6 hours while troopers from the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack investigated the collision.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation by Trooper Cornbrooks, of the Maryland State Police.
Wow that center barrier wall that went up years ago after that family was killed in a similar style crash must be broken. Wait a minute, did they ever put up that barrier? They didn’t due something stupid like not put it up and just have you turn on your headlights? Oh yes they did. And where is the local politicians and newspapers on this issue? Nowhere! Every day that goes by there should be a story about this barrier not being installed and who is holding it up. This easily could have been another family killed. How many more must be injured or die?
The State was looking for funding to do the work. When I have driven along 24, the section that runs up Route 1, I have turned on my headlights, manditory, and have counted the vehicles headed the other direction with no headlights. On average there are 30 vehicles, on that small section of road, that don not have their headlights on. Here is the funding on the road, 30 vehicles X $60 ticket = $1,800. Imagine how much funding could be generated for a full day.
While there are a number of flaws with your thinking, the major one is that all money from citations go directly to the State of Maryland and not Harford County.
The funding for the center barrier on the Bel Air Bypass was secured late 2010 and work will begin this Spring.
That road scares the hell out of me. I drive in the right lane heading south until there is just one lane opposing and then take my chances. If I forget to turn my headlights on….. fine me. I deserve it.
There are plenty of 50 mph roadways in Harford County without a barrier and there are accidents on these roadways daily. The bypass has everyone’s attention because of the tragic accident that regretably took such a toll, but to erect barriers on these roads is just a huge expense and, in my opinion, a waste of taxpayer dollars and a sad opportunity for political grandstanding. Any yes, headlights are a joke and just an excuse to pull you over (if incorrect, please provide me a site for the study that shows headlights decrease head on collisions and I will adjust my comments). If Glassman and Stifler support this barrier and want us to pay for it, then I assume they are searching for funding to put barriers on Rt. 23, Rt. 155, Rt. 165, Rt. 543, Rt. 136, Rt. 152, Rt. 161 and all of Rt. 1 (I am sure a missed a couple). Come on, are you too not “afraid” to drive these roads where cars pass by each other at 50 mph (yes, that is sarcasm). Since Delegate Stifler is on here reading, I would ask that she provide us with the amount of the funding that we will be paying? Please, just the amount and not some explanation that the project is “specially funded” as every dollar that the Government collects comes out of taxpayer pockets somewhere.