Media pressure mounts regarding "Davidson-Concord Speedway"

We broke the story here at aShortChronicle a couple of weeks ago regarding videos showing how truly dangerous Davidson-Concord Road has become for pedestrians.

That story has now caught the attention of other local media.

Wednesday night Fox46 ran the following story.

Click HERE for video.

Thursday, Time Warner Cable news had this piece.

Click HERE for video.

Also early Thursday, a press release was sent to local media from Vallee Bubak of Davidson.  It contained some interesting research.

-From 2008 - 2015 there have been a total of 112 reported accidents on the 2.39-mile stretch from Highway 73 to Rocky River Road.

-14 of those accidents (including the one that almost took my son's life) occurred at the intersection of Robert Walker Road).

-The current speed limit on this stretch of road is 55 mph and changes to 45 mph at Beaver Dam, although most northbound drivers (like the one who hit my son) choose to ignore or don't notice the change in speed limit.

-If the speed limit were lowered by 10mph, safety and driver reaction time would increase significantly and add less than 45 seconds to the drive time. 

The release goes on to say...

Results show that the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph, 25% at 23 mph, 50% at 31 mph, 75% at 39 mph, and 90% at 46 mph. The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph. Risks vary significantly by age. For example, the average risk of severe injury or death for a 70‐year‐old pedestrian struck by a car travelling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30‐year‐old pedestrian struck at 35 mph. 

All of this information and attention comes as

Davidson Commissioners recently swept through multiple approvals for the new West

Commissioner Jenest

Branch neighborhood at the intersection of Robert Walker Drive and Davidson-Concord Road. That's the neighborhood involving Commissioner Brian Jenest.

Click key word "West Branch" on the bottom of this post for the in depth coverage of those votes.

Those approvals and that neighborhood WILL make this area even more dangerous.

Commissioners have in the past contacted NCDOT about this road and "resolved" to do something about it.  To date nothing has caused NCDOT to bend.  Residents should plan on attending the 6pm Board meeting this coming Tuesday to ensure they follow through with getting this issue fixed.

Now that Davidson Commissioners have approved growth knowing it will make this situation worse, they have ownership and responsibility for resolving it.  To some degree, they also own any future accidents that occur in that area if they don't get it done.