Want to Report Crazy Drivers? Here's How...

I find driving in the Metro DC area to be an "unnecessary" nightmare. The behaviors drivers exhibit are an ugly combination of fragile egos combined with power trips topped with immaturity and spite.

For example, a couple weeks ago, a white Mercedes SUV keeping driving at me and three other people as we crossed Summit to catch the MARC train. The woman glared at me and increased her speed missing me by only 4-5 inches!

The pedestrians are as bad as the drivers by walking into oncoming traffic that has the green light, instead of crossing at designated crosswalks, and doing so when they are texting or listening to an iPod or similar device.

Another example, a month ago a mother was crossing Diamond Avenue against the light with two boys. I pointed to the orange light and her response? Like a spiteful child, she stuck her chin up in the air and threw back her shoulders and continued to cross in front of oncoming traffic.

Those of us who know better can report you in Gaithersburg here:

Gaithersburg Police Department Citizen Information in Traffic Enforcement (CITE)

http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/apps/cite/ 

What to look for:

Excessive Speed	Failure to Obey Traffic Device	Failure to Obey Auto Signal
Failure to Keep Right of Center	Failure to Make Required Stop	Failure to Obey Stop/Yield Sign
Failure to Drive in Designated Lane	Failure to Grant Right of Way	Improper Passing
Improper Lane Change	Improper Turns	Wrong Way on One-Way Street
Following Too Close	Reckless Driving	Negligent Driving
Unsafe Backing	School Bus Law	Parking Violation
Littering	Other

 

Gaithersburg Olde Towne Traffic

Archstone Apartment Traffic

Statistics show we can expect Archstone residents to own between 200-700 cars. The City has only approved three exits and intersection changes to accommodate all this new traffic.

Two exits will come from extending Teachers Way to North Summit dumping traffic on to both Summit and Girard. The third exit will be an alley dumping traffic on to East Diamond. (See current map below.)

The intersection changes will likely only be shorter traffic light cycles.

WhenThe Residences at Hidden Creek is fully occupied, more traffic will dump onto Summit Avenue and Girard creating even more gridlock.

The City has no plans to widen any of these roads. Smart growth is not smart if it does not include structural changes to the surrounding roads.

If don’t want your commute time tripled, let the City Planners know how you feel.

     Planning and Code Administration

     City of Gaithersburg
     31 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
     Phone: 301-258-6330; Fax: 301-258-6336
     E-mail: plancode@gaithersburgmd.gov

They meet the first and third Wednesday at 7:30 pm; location: City Hall Council Chambers.