IT'S THAT time of year again: deer mating season, soon to be followed by firearm hunting season.
And that means more deer will be wandering onto area roads.
There is one segment of the driving public that should really be wary--motorcyclists. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, seven of the 12 deadly crashes between deer and vehicles in the state during the last two years involved motorcyclists.
And AAA says that motorcyclists comprise 70 percent of fatal crashes involving deer nationwide.
So keep enjoying those rides in the country and on secluded mountain roads. Just be even more mindful of those four-legged creatures that might be crossing your path.
Dear Scott: First, when you are traveling west on Route 208 (Lake Anna Parkway) toward Robert E. Lee Drive there is a sign on the right that reads Post Oak and points to the left/south the wrong way.
If you were to travel west/straight, Lake Anna Parkway takes you to Post Oak. Turning left would have you travel through several other sections of Spotsylvania before you would have to "know" to turn around and head the right way.
Second, also on Lake Anna Parkway at the light in front of Spotsylvania High School, the intersecting road is clearly and in very LARGE letters identified as Post Oak Road.
However, the county notified the few of us residents that were affected by the name changes after the opening of new section of Lake Anna Parkway that the road across from the high school would be named Old Courthouse Road and our addresses changed from Courthouse Road to Old Courthouse Road.
Interestingly enough, they named the end of the road in front of the high school Post Oak Road, but when you enter from Old Courthouse Road heading toward the high school, it reads that you are turning from Old Courthouse Road onto Old Courthouse Road. Post Oak Road would be to your left and not to your right toward the high school.
It sounds confusing because it is. We are not on any website map searches yet and, depending on which way someone is heading to my house, it's kind of difficult explaining the error in the signs.
UPS and Fed Ex finally figured it out after many failed attempts to deliver orders.
--Kelly Faulconer, Spotsylvania
Those signs should be cleared up soon, if not already.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is reviewing all of the signs in the Courthouse Bypass project area, said spokeswoman Tina Bundy. She said the department has already made several changes to street and directional signs.
And more changes probably are on the way as VDOT is working with the county on street names and signs in the project area.
Scott Shenk: 540/374-5436
Email: sshenk@freelancestar.com