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Page Two <br />August 3U 1988 <br />I am enclosing photographs which graphically demonstrate the <br />inability of drivers and/or pedestrians to see one another due to an <br />obstructed line of vision along the south side of County Road 51 from <br />the point where parking is permitted to the east of the North Arm <br />channel. <br />The speed limit on the road at this location is 35 m.p.h. It is my <br />understanding that a car travelling at that speed would take more <br />then six car lengths to come to a complete stop from that speed, <br />taking into account both the reaction and braking time. Clearly, the <br />enclosed photographs demonstrate there is no margin of safety when <br />the south side of the highway is used for bumper to bumper parking. <br />The problem is particularly acute because boaters frequently drive <br />vans or pickups which are particularly difficult to see over, or <br />around. <br />An additional factor exacerbating the risk is the narrow width of the <br />roadway and shoulder; which literally necessitates a pedestrian <br />stepping into the roadway in order to determine if there is traffic <br />coming. Even then, along the curve that is depicted in these <br />photographs, the first line of sight for such traffic coming from the <br />westerly direction would be around or less than six car lengths. <br />I recognize the competing pressures with regard to maximizing lake <br />usage for the public as well as the home owners. However, I <br />respectfully suggest that t’ ' issue in this instance cannot be <br />postulated as a balancing to the competing interests of private <br />property owners with the public. The issue is pure and simple, one of <br />safety, vis-a-vis convenience. <br />A significant part of my professional life is involved in automobile <br />accident litigation. From my professional experiences, and work with <br />accident reconstruction experts in other matters, I hope I am^ not <br />being prophetic in expressing my concern that this situation is an <br />accident waiting to happen. <br />The safer/, health, or Ii:» of iny child or icuit is too high i price to <br />pay, or too high a risk to take: for the sole purpose of adding twenty <br />to thirty parking spots for the public using the North Arm boat <br />launch, on the six to eight summer days when usage is heavy. <br />I submit that the recommended lake wide goal of 700 ptrking spaces <br />for boat launch users must look to some other solution tl.an dangerous <br />off street parking spaces.