Put the Brakes on Neighborhood Speeders
2015 Nissan Pathfinder Premium
Have you ever felt burning hot frustration at drivers who treat your neighborhood streets like a race track? Have you ever found yourself yelling at these speed-demons with phrases like, “You’re going too fast!” or “Slow down!” or even, “There are kids playing here!”? Perhaps these phrases were even extended by four-letter words and name calling that might not be appropriate for the ears of the kids’ you’re trying to protect…nope? Just me, then. Fine.
Anyway, when drivers dismiss the 20, 25, or 30 mph speed limit posted in a neighborhood, it’s not only frustrating, it’s dangerous. Pedestrian traffic does not mix well with high vehicular speeds. But is there a way, besides yelling, to get speeders to slow down in your neighborhood?
According to HouseLogic.com writer Donna Fuscaldo, by investing thought, time, and maybe some dough in a well-crafted plan, you can reign in the lawless speeders.
First step is to rally the troops—your neighbors—to create a petition with your request, like speed bumps, to your city officials; depending on the community, the process might take awhile and/or require a financial investment from your neighborhood, according to Fuscaldo.
Traffic enforcement is a great way to keep speeders from hitting the gas; enlist help from the police and when the officer has to move on, coordinate a neighborhood watch to be on the lookout for speeding offenders, recommends Fuscaldo, who notes that a Phoenix neighborhood equips its residents with “radar equipment to collect data on days and times when speeding is at its worst. The city then sends letters to vehicle owners urging them to slow down.”
If you are in need of a quick fix, Fuscaldo suggests putting out signs that scream “Children at Play” or electronic signs that record the speed of vehicles, but keep your expectations in check.
“Like a neighborhood watch, the effectiveness is limited because there’s no enforcement penalty tied to either. In fact, some cities warn that ‘Children at Play’ signs can be dangerous because they give parents and kids a false sense of security,” reports Fuscaldo.
If your neighborhood is in need of a much more drastic measure, according to Fuscaldo, altering your neighborhood’s road structure with traffic circles, roundabouts, curb extensions, and lane narrowing might be options to consider.
News Source: HouseLogic.com
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