Speeding and effective writing?

Hi all, it’s been a while since I’ve participated on here. And really HOATalk? I had to delete all of my cookies, passwords and browser history to log back on????

We have a problem with a handful of speeders in our community. We have 78 homes. Our roads are tight and windy and they are owned by the county.

I had a conversation with a HO, a short while ago, who used chase speeding and drunk drivers only to get flipped off or yelled at. So I had called for monitoring in June which happened in July.

I received a note the other day from a HO, whose daughter just received her license 2 weeks ago and was passed on our tight road by a speeding driver.

A long story short a conversation with our county police sergeant today, they will now only consider us for enforcement after doing an electronic assessment of when and where they will employ officers. Enforcement requires an astronomical number of speeders going on average 8 mph over the speed limit (25 mph) in our residential community.

What is your experience with getting drivers to slow down? Does writing about it in the newsletter help or hinder? What else can we do?

Thanks.

It's best to work with your county for a solution. May contact your representative in the county to help pass some laws if necessary. However, that is outside of the HOA scope and responsibility. We had the option of installing speed humps in our HOA but that has it's own requirements. We didn't have enough traffic flow to install them. Plus it hindered emergency vehicles. They do have them in other neighborhoods nearby and it's helped them.

Until people get tickets from the police about speeding, speeding isn't going to stop. It's useless and dangerous to chase after someone speeding. A person standing still doesn't know how fast a car is actually going. I had someone yell at me for "speeding" once in my neighborhood while they were walking down the road. I wasn't speeding and going less than the posted limit. I nearly hit the person and his family because of HIS actions. He practically jumped in front of my car and then yelled at my window.

Just make sure the speed limit is posted and maybe take down license plate numbers. Organize a neighborhood watch. May be the best approach as long as you operate within the law...

Maryland drivers always speed. (oops) I am not sure about asking the local police department to patrol private roads. In Florida it does not work unless the Association pays for it and even that is kind of ‘ify’.

If the Association has established the speed limit of 15 Mph on the private roads police cannot enforce it or, even issue a ticket for speeding because it is not ‘official’ speed limit. At least, this is what I was told. You may want to meet with the police department or a town council and ask about what is enforceable. Here are a couple of suggestions:

Part1: The speed bumps are quite effective (does not stop the UPS drivers, though). Another solution is to install radar guns and they are not expensive.

Part 2: Also please check your docs to assure they permit to levy fines for violations.

Why not...if I am playing soccer in my driveway with my kid and the ball gets away from her and rolls into the street there should be plenty of time to stop or avoid it if you are doing the speed limit. If your driving recklessly and fast then that is your fault that your not able to react to road situations.

Brad,

you are changing a scenario on me. Your post said to intentionally release a ball onto a street when people speed. We ‘If they do not speed’ it is not an issue here and you would not throw the ball, right?

Can I throw balls on any street if someone speeds? I think I’d be busted in a hurry. Either way, you are risking an accident to happen. Anything you place on the street that can cause an accident is not a good idea. I think your suggestion is putting the Association at great risk.

Tracy,

There is no solution that is 100% effective, but safety organizations have found that a radar speed display (a unit that flashes your speed as you drive by) is the most effective way to slow down drivers in residential areas. It works better than speed bumps, periodic police controls, or warning signs.

You can find a portable, battery-powered unit for about $3,500. You will need to be sure that you can legally use it in your jurisdiction -- you can contact your local police department.

With a portable unit, you can move it around your neighborhood to keep it "fresh" and continue to get the attention of speeders.

Good luck.