Speeding Through Neighborhoods? Read This Before Someone Is Killed: Block Talk

Here’s what Robert would like to say to anyone who’s ever sped down a residential street, blown through a stop sign, or driven in a way that shows complete disregard for the safety or presence of others:

“A friend’s high school daughter and her friend were killed by someone who drives like you. And then the car behind the speeder — also going too fast — ran them over, too,” the Westport (Connecticut) Patch reader said of the tragedy a few years ago.

Robert was commenting on a survey for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column. We asked what can be done to improve neighborhood traffic safety at a time when many police agencies have staffing shortages that limit patrol.

“It’s simple,” Robert said. “All states and towns must install hidden cameras at many locations and ticket the speeders who are especially excessive. Plus, raise the fine amounts. Problem solved.”

Bridgewater (New Jersey) Patch reader Karen drives past a painful reminder of the consequences of speeding drivers.

“Just down the street from me, a little girl was killed while riding her bike by an idiot driving a truck,” Karen said. “Every time I go past the site, I see a bike surrounded by flowers and stuffed animals. It just breaks my heart to think of what she must have gone through and what her friends who were with her at the time of the accident and her family have gone through. It affects a lot of people.”

“In my immediate neighborhood, there are many intellectually and physically challenged people, so it’s inhumane of drivers to speed,” said Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Patch reader Anne.

She favors the use of speed cameras, which automatically detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit, triggering a high-resolution camera that photographs the license plate and vehicle, recording the time, location and speed, and often with the technology to issue tickets to the registered owner.

“Speed bumps and rises do help to a degree, too,” Anne said.

“We all know that family who lost someone to a reckless driver,” said Mr. 3 Putt, a North Branford (Connecticut) Patch reader. “This is totally a choice. Make good choices; good things happen.”

Get Serious About Consequences

Westhampton-Hampton Bays (New York) Patch reader Mary suggested legislative changes that would hold parents accountable alongside the young drivers in their family.

“When a speeder’s license is revoked for this offense, maybe this would prevent further problems. If the speeder is not authorized to drive, then let this first offense be the parents’ responsibility and have their license (the parents’) bear the burden of their child’s very poor decisions.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to get real hardcore with these people, because they just don’t care. The only thing they care about is fun and themselves,” said Patch reader J.D., who thinks reckless drivers should be sent a clear message:

“You could be jailed for manslaughter if you kill somebody while you’re driving fast. Do you want to spend the rest of your days in jail? Do yourself a favor and imagine what that would be like. Ask people that have been to jail. What was it like for you in jail? Google, it read about what it's like to go to jail. Because you’re very well headed there. And you should know what your behavior could lead to. So you could make a decision about what you want to do about it.”

‘I Would Love To Pull Her Over’

Many readers want to see more uniformed patrols in their neighborhoods.

“I have called, and they are less than enthusiastic about coming out to a neighborhood,” Stafford-Willington (Connecticut) Patch reader Jeph said. “The police cannot engage in any chase, so there’s no reason for the speeders to slow down.”

That’s because police officers in Connecticut are restricted from pursuing vehicles unless they have reasonable suspicion that a driver or passenger has committed, or is attempting to commit, a crime of violence, or if the suspect poses an immediate threat. Other states have adopted similar policies, but the number is small and shifting, with more rolling back police chase laws.

Concerned citizens may have to nudge police to check out specific situations, said Tewksbury (Massachusetts) Patch reader Mr. Quake.

“Record video of the problem vehicles. Send it to your local PD,” Mr. Quake said. “Make sure to state the street name. If it happens during a consistent time frame, mention that also. Get footage of a couple of items to show repetition.”

Beekman (New York) Patch AM reader Ann lives in a small town that doesn’t have a police department. There’s a sheriff’s office in town, but officers don’t patrol neighborhoods.

Ann wishes she had a badge.

“I would love to stop them as I am walking on our road and say, ‘I will report you to the authorities if you don’t slow down around our neighborhood. You drive way too fast,’” Ann said. “The school bus driver who picks up elementary school children drives extremely fast. I would like to pull her over!”

Don’t just wish the situation will improve; take action, a few readers said.

Millstone (New Jersey) Patch AM reader Lee and others are working with town officials on a variety of changes, including reducing speed limits, reconfiguring lanes, and prohibiting right turns on red lights. The new codes would have teeth, Lee said, including higher fines, mandatory license suspensions on a third offense, and mandatory court appearances.

“Make the penalty so severe that eventually word will get around even at the most basic level, that it’s not worth it to speed,” Natick (Massachusetts) Patch reader Bill said. “I would love to tell them with the authority to officially back it up that they’ve lost their driving privileges for one year for the first offense, five years for the second offense, and permanently for the third offense.

“Think this is too harsh?” Bill continued. “Ask a parent who’s lost a child due to a speeder!”

Make Speeding An Axle-Breaker

More speed bumps and other traffic-calming devices, such as strategically placed curb extensions, also known as “bump-outs,” and roundabouts to significantly reduce vehicle speeds, would improve pedestrian safety, many readers said

Everet, who reads Gloucester Township Patch and Cherry Hill Patch, both in New Jersey, thinks some motorists will oppose what, to him, is the only workable solution

“Better street design,” he said. “Raised or continuous crosswalks, speed bumps, curb extensions, and road diets have been proven to lower average speeds and make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.”

Rivertowns (New York) Patch reader Vesco also favors redesigning roads to encourage slower speeds, including reducing the number of lanes, planting trees in medians, and adding crosswalks.

“Police can’t enforce speed limits 24/7 and don’t enforce them until speeds exceed 10-15 mph over the speed limit,” Vesco said. “Pass state laws allowing towns to reduce speed limits below 25 mph (with effective enforcement thresholds below 35-40 mph) where appropriate and encourage ‘low through traffic neighborhood’ redesign to limit cut-through traffic.”

“We are still trying to get speed bumps put down. It will also stop those darn doughnuts,” Antioch (California) Patch AM reader The Zone said, referencing the driving maneuver where a car spins in a tight, continuous circle, causing the rear wheels to lose traction, skid, and often produce smoke from burnt rubber.

“I actually stopped a young man, told him, ‘I know where you live. Go in front of your mom’s home and do that crap,’” The Zone continued. “I even let him know his exact address. He totally froze. And apologized.”

“Add roundabouts to those streets, or cameras with instant tickets mailed out to the guilty party or their parents if a roundabout doesn’t work, and publish names of those caught speeding in The Patch,” Columbia (Maryland) Patch reader Jack said, adding, “You’re going to carry the terrible guilt your entire life if you hurt someone or someone’s pet.”

Obtaining necessary street improvements can be a lengthy and complex bureaucratic battle with public hearings, budgetary approvals, and engineering reviews sometimes stretching over several fiscal years.

‘No One Thinks You’re Cool’

Survey respondents weren’t opposed to trying to shame people into slowing down.

“Please use common sense,” Edgewood (Maryland) Patch AM reader Johnn said. “Residential streets have a 25 mph speed limit. People are walking on the sidewalks, cutting grass and trimming their lawns, checking their mail, and riding their bikes, and you guys are whizzing by at 40-50 miles an hour! Slow down!”

Speeding shaves only minutes, or even seconds, off arrival times, readers pointed out.

“Why are you in such a rush just to get to the same stoplight as everyone else at the same time, anyway? Be more aware of other drivers; you never know if someone is going to change lanes at the last minute,” said R, a Tinley Park (Illinois) Patch reader. “I witnessed a fatal motorcycle accident caused by speeding and reckless driving. No one cares anymore.”

“Slow down,” said Islip (New York) Patch reader Angela. “You’re not a superstar, and this isn’t a ‘Fast and Furious’ movie. Nobody thinks you’re cool. Think how terrible you would feel if you hit a person or animal.”

“What is so important to you that you would risk others’ lives and jail time for yourself? People die because of senseless people who want to show off their piece of crap, weed-wacker-sounding, 1990s Honda,” Bensalem (Pennsylvania) Patch reader JK said, adding, “No one thinks you're cool.”

“Please deal with your feelings of inadequacy and rage through therapy, not through your vehicles,” said Across America Patch reader Lynn, who takes issue with “the vroom-vroom boys.”

“​​People need to be accountable to their neighbors. We can’t expect law enforcement to keep dealing with what is a question of community ethos,” Lynn said. “First of all, we need to build relationships and spend more time chatting in the streets and connecting with each other on a human level. Instead of calling the cops, try talking to people. And for repeat offenders who regularly fail to respect everyone’s right to have safe and relatively quiet streets, vigilante teams to disable cars and motorscooters.”

Lynn added, “I am only half-kidding.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with Block Talk as the subject line.

Catch Up On Block Talk

• Thawing Dog Poop Shows What ‘Lazy Slobs’ Some Owners Are
• Unruly Parents Are Ruining Youth Sports
• Neighbors Share Random Acts Of Kindness That ‘Blew Them Away’
• Who Pays When Your Neighbor’s Tree Damages Your Property?
• If You Don’t Return A Shopping Cart, Are You A Total Jerk?
• ‘Poop Cleanup In Aisle 9’: Do Dogs Belong In Stores?