How To Stop Speeding In Your Neighborhood?

Are you worried about the constant speeding on your street and neighborhood and you wish to do something to stop it?

Traffic calming is the name given to measure that seek to give an order to the traffic in a way that it balances both its frequency and its intensity- that is; measures to make the traffic flow for cars without having them to speed putting pedestrians at risk. And it includes a lot of actions that can make cars stop speeding in your neighborhood, like installing signs, speed bumps and more.

However, you cannot just go to the street and do your own traffic calming. Modifying the street and its signals is actually a crime from which you can get arrested!

What you need to do is contact your municipality and request traffic calming measures. It’s as simple as that.

Now, there are worlds away from the way one municipality to another when it comes to their demand and preferences. So, since a “speeding crisis” needs to be solved ASAP, it’s important you arrive at your local authority with a compelling case. Here are some things you should keep an eye on:

• Don’t make this about yourself. Of course, you are worried about your kid and the safety of your kid alone is already worthy of a speed bump or whatever traffic calming measure you’re searching. However, like we said, your local authority might have a lot on their plate, so reach out to other neighbors to beef up your request. Find out how many people have the same concern, set up a meeting to see if they think it’s a good idea to ask for actions to reduce speeding in your neighborhood. Tell your story, but also hear theirs. In fact, even though you are the one who set the thing in motion, your goal should be having an existing leadership/organization (like a homeowner’s association or something like that) be the one leading the request. It will carry more weight. Are you a good neighbor? One of the great things about taking charge of situations that are important to everyone is that you will become one to your neighbor's eyes if you follow this one.
• Know the rules. Since every place is different, it’s important to know the rules so you can know what’s possible, what isn’t and how to proceed with the next steps.
• Produce evidence. Knowing the rules and procedures to install speed bumps in your neighborhood, you will know what is considered an evidence of a frail traffic calming design and you will be able to produce evidence to support your claim. This can go from videos of cars speeding by your street – if you get a speeding radar somewhere, it would be nice – to lack of street lights and other signalization.

From there on, you should gather your neighbors and produce the campaign. Not only the paperwork required but, if possible, some sort of activist actions. We’re not saying to picket in front of city hall – though if it’s really bad… why not? A citizen not afraid to speak up for his rights is Peak America -  but, you know, you can propose videos on social media to be sent to local authority profiles, schedule meetings to follow up on the project… All we’re saying is that the work to stop speeding in your neighborhood does not stop when you deliver the request. It only ends when whatever adequate traffic calming measures are taken. Good luck!