Speed Control

How do you control speed?
We have six miles of private
roads. The local police have no
juristiction except for reckless driving.
We are looking for suggestions.
Don

Speeding IS reckless driving. Ask the local PD to do its job. If they refuse, consider buying a speed monitoring and reporting device. (They ain't cheap). You can install a local speed limit sign on it. Below that sign, in large digital format, the speed of approaching vehicles is displayed for comparison with the limit on the sign. These devices are mounted on a small trailer and can be moved as necessary. Admittedly the monitoring device will not "police" your drivers but it will provide them advice that they are speeding. If you really want to make this work, post one of your volunteers near the sign who will write down the license plate numbers of those seen to be speeding and later send the speeders a nasty-gram of some sort.

An interesting news article came in our news feed recently on this subject:
"Residents working to deter speeders" at
http://www.gatewaynewspapers.com/cranberryjournal/60257/

It mentions an interesting web site called:
www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org

You might want to check it out.

We fall under the county jurisdiction, so therefore the Sheriff's dept. is the entity that is called in case of reporting of speeding, etc. We contacted the sheriff and asked for a deputy to patrol the subdivision a few hours a week that the HOA would pay for. Since law enforcement cannot be anywhere all the time, the board (when I was on it) left it up to the deputy to stagger times so no one was sure of when he would be in the subdivision. He patrols for about 3-4 hours (per week) total off and on so many minutes a day, sometimes on Sat. or Sun. (if he desires). They have a separate contract just like the guys who act as security guards at banks, discount clubs, etc., and our charge was around $35-50 an hour. They sent a bill to the HOA or MC monthly and it was paid directly to that officer. It has worked very well because I will see him parked in locations where no one knows he is there until after they've run a stop sign or after they've sped thru. Our streets were private when first buiilt and then I think they were given or sold to the county which allowed them to put in 25mph signs to enforce and other. The patrolman tries to be in neighborhood around school bus time, but cannot always because of other contract jobs and guards, but our biggest problem is that high schoolers (drivers) are flying thru the neighborhood at the same time as the school buses and they have run the "stop" sign to pass a bus--I've actually seen it happen and on a curve at that! The presence of an officer just a few hours a week has made a tremendous difference!
EdR