Speeding Drivers Threaten Quiet, Lives; Devalue Property

Sat., July 22, 2000

Ruth Mink Special To Handle Extr

It’s 6:30 a.m. on East Miles Avenue in Hayden, and not only is the amount of traffic picking up, but the speed on this 25 mph residential street is increasing noticeably. Speeds range from 30 mph to a norm of anywhere between 35 mph and 50 mph.

Our friends and neighbors to the east of us are trying to get to work on time. I know this. And about 4:30 p.m., it will happen again in reverse.

I know they are in a hurry to get to the peace and safety of their own homes. What about the peace and safety of those of us already home?

Those who are thoughtlessly speeding by our close-to-the-street living rooms all day and long into the night very likely live off of a main arterial such as East Miles and are not aware of how much more obtrusive the sound is of a vehicle passing by at 40 mph versus 25 mph. The difference is astounding and should wake up any caring heart.

The difference in speed becomes threatening and almost unbearable when my husband Leo and I go outside and participate in residential activities such as working in our front yards, visiting with the next door neighbor, going to the mailbox on the street, backing out of our driveway, or walking with our dog and grandchildren. Yet we face the traffic and keep our green grass mowed, plant flowers and paint fences to look respectable. Show respect to us and our efforts by driving by at 25 mph.

Here is another experiment for a courageous person: Bend over and pull a weed on the edge of our yard with your head one foot from a car whizzing by not seeming to care. Mercy! Sometimes I think they must have their cruise control set at 40 mph and are not going to brake no matter what because it just might be an inconvenience.

Think about it - nice, quiet, respectable people trying to live peaceful lives while their nice and otherwise law-abiding neighbors are whizzing by, complacently and consistently breaking the law in apparent self-centered abandon. It is disrespectful and should not be happening so freely.

We teach our children not to steal from or deface a store. The owner is to be protected. Speeders on residential streets are stealing our peace and defacing the value of our homes, as well as compromising our safety. I cannot think of a better place to start teaching our children respect for the law than driving 25 mph in residential areas. Everyone who is driving is setting an example for our young people to follow.

Ask any person involved in emergency care and they will tell you emphatically how often speed and arrogant driving results in our most gruesome accidents.

There are 67 occupied homes on East Miles between Government Way and Strahorn. Drive down our street and count each home, and think of the real people living inside.

Solutions are costly. The most effective solution is more frequent and stiffer fines. At first glance that looks like the most fair way because those who are offending will pay immediately from their pocket. But all taxpayers ultimately will pay for more patrol officers, better radar guns and more patrol vehicles. Speed bumps and frequent flashing signs are not cheap.

What is it going to take to break this pattern? I have heard of some cities that take fairly significant measures to curb residential speeds, such as circular obstacles at intersections.

Ideally, drivers simply will slow down for everyone’s benefit. After all, there is more to life than increasing its speed.

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