Anyone who travels Partlow Road with any frequency has had a near-death experience as the result of a speeding driver.

Asked to address the speeding on Partlow Road at the beginning of the school year, the Sheriff’s Office parked an empty cruiser in the Berkeley Elementary parking lot for two days. Speeding did not decrease, and it remains an issue.

Following the Oct. 16 death on Partlow Road of Anne Gardner, the Sheriff’s Office has finally started to address the issue.

Could Ms. Gardner’s death have been prevented if speeders on Partlow Road had been fearful of being issued a traffic citation? We’ll never know, but the question begs to be answered. Early intervention and listening to the public’s requests to address traffic issues can save lives.

Scores of traffic tickets have been is- sued on Partlow Road by the Sheriff’s Office in recent weeks. Perhaps the county could use some of its newfound revenue to start a scholarship fund in Ms. Gardner’s name. After all, it seems to have been her death that finally made it do the right thing.

Carin Mahaney

Spotsylvania