Dear Source,
I happened to be walking that stretch of Veterans Drive Sunday morning where an accident had occurred earlier killing a pedestrian, an elderly lady on her way to church. It was a somber sight, with the woman's purse and church hat still in the road.
What happens to speeders on this island? Nothing, to be best of my knowledge. I walk almost every morning from Frenchtown to the pump station on the other side of the harbor and back, and I am constantly amazed at the speedway Veterans Drive has become. Cars race down the road at what must be up to 80 mph. And I have never, not once, seen anybody stopped. Not only on the waterfront, but anywhere on the island.
This speeding has to be common knowledge. It was curbed for a while on the airport road, and I think the participants have moved their speedway downtown. It's horrifying that a tragedy such as the one that took place Sunday has to occur. If the speeders were aware that they were being monitored, that certainly should serve as a deterrent.
And how about the motorcycles that roar down Veterans Drive not only in the early morning, but all day, insinuating themselves in and out of the traffic? I have observed police cars, on more than one occasion, just ignoring the cyclists.
Oh, I have seen police issue tickets for serious infractions of the law, believe me. I received one, myself, while turning a corner at about 5 miles an hour and neglecting to spot a stop sign which was thoroughly obscured by bush. I had unwittingly become a public menace.
How about getting some police speeding supervision? Can it be that difficult?
Molly Morris
St. Thomas, V.I.
