Everybody seems to be in a hurry — especially motorists.
Roadways are like racetracks, and if you listen to Talmadge Rogers, red lights can be like the green flag at the Daytona 500.
“Red light running is rampant and will eventually cost lives,” says Rogers, who just happens to be director of operations and sales for CityView.
Rogers spends his share of time on the highways traveling to Durham with The Assembly, which owns CityView Magazine and its six-day digital publication. He was on his way back from Durham on Thursday and heading along Owen Drive and Boone Trail toward his Hope Mills home when a red stoplight halted his travel.
“I had a close call,” he said. “I was waiting at a light, a bit distracted thinking about prior conversations, when my light turned green. The car behind me tapped their horn because I hesitated about two to three seconds before moving. That hesitation likely saved me. Had I gone immediately on green, I would have been T-boned by someone running the red light.”
Something you may wish to know about Talmadge Rogers. He’s about as laid-back a fellow as you will ever meet. When he worked in the sales department at The Fayetteville Observer, we always said when there was a fire drill, you didn’t want to be behind Talmadge Rogers trying to get out of the building. Talmadge Rogers has a slow gait and moves at his own pace. And a good thing for him Thursday, when that motorist, as he says, drove right through that red light at the intersection of Owen Drive and Boone Trail.
Talmadge Rogers could have been seriously injured because of another motorist’s irresponsibility.
He could have been fatally injured.
“The problem is everywhere in Cumberland County,” Rogers said. “I see it nearly every time I drive, often multiple times in a single trip. It’s beyond frustrating. It’s dangerous, and it’s only a matter of time before more lives are lost.”
Rogers’ close call Thursday got him thinking.
“Is this topic worthy of some sunshine?” he wanted to know. “What’s your thoughts and experiences?”
Seems a reasonable topic of concern.
‘Take a second to ensure the intersection is clear’
Well, Mr. Rogers, we’ll let those who deal with motorists on our highways weigh in here, starting with Col. Freddy Johnson Jr., the Cumberland County native who is commander of the N.C. State Highway Patrol.
“Roadway intersections are one of the most common areas for collisions to occur, so drivers should be especially mindful of important safety practices when navigating them,” Johnson said. “Driving defensively, keeping a close eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists, and always ensuring other drivers come to a stop prior to entering the intersection, are all ways in which you can ensure your safety, that of your passengers as well as those you share the roadway with.”
Johnathan Morgan is the new sheriff for the county, and he is aware of how dangerous an intersection can be even when a motorist has a green light.
“When a traffic light turns green, be vigilant, take a second to ensure the intersection is clear, and then slowly proceed with caution,” Morgan said. “A few seconds could save a life, possibly your own.”
Roberto Bryan Jr. is the new city police chief. He didn’t respond to my inquiry about advice at city roadway intersections, but he was on Monday night delivering his quarterly report to the Fayetteville City Council, and he did address traffic safety.
“As you see our numbers for traffic stops, it is trending upwards with almost 9%,” Bryant told the council. “This is an effort by the city of Fayetteville Police Department to slow down those drivers in our community and these careless and reckless drivers.”
He said a DriveWiseStayAlive campaign is a part of the FPD’s city streets safety initiative.
“With the increased traffic enforcement, we’re hoping to decrease the fatalities and the number of fatalities that we have throughout the city,” Bryan said. “But we still continue to have fatalities increasing with the speeding, so that’s why we have to continue to be enforcing these moving violations and these careless and reckless drivers throughout our city.”
Epilogue
Talmadge Rogers wonders about my experience with traffic signal intersections.
My philosophy is simple.
Even when the red light turns green, look to the right, look to the left and look toward the motorist on the other side of the intersection
Or, in the words of Sheriff Morgan, be vigilant.
After all, we’re not chasing the checkered flag at the raceway.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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