After several candidates said they heard more complaints about speeding on residential streets than anything else except the economy, I asked all of the contenders to tell me what they'd do about it. Their answers are due by early this afternoon.
Meantime, what should they say? What could the city do to reduce the madcap driving by shortcut-seeking commuters and rushed residents?
Give the candidates some ideas. Some of them probably need the help.
(And, candidates, please remember you have until 1 p.m. to send me your thoughts.)
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
25 comments:
This is a terrible problem (everywhere including the central areas of Bristol).
Thank you Steve for writing about this.
I'm glad to see you writing about something that really means something to ordinary people!
"what should they say?" Really, Steve, they will all have their take on it. There is no right or wrong answer here and your comment on "what should they say" makes it seem as if there is a right or wrong answer. as long as someone has some ideas, then that's fine with me.
9:26 -- I agree with you. There is no one answer. And perhaps one or more of them will offer some truly interesting ideas.
How about another abominable traffic light. I believe there may be an intersection in town that has yet been blessed with one.
1) More speed traps on heavily traveled, residential streets.
2) Speed bumps (like on Prospect Street in Hartford).
Start with Woodland Street. Cars, Trucks and motorcycles treat that street like it's their own personal race track! The Bristol Police seem to have no interest in ticketing the drivers who use that street as an alternate to Route 6. It's crazy and needs to end!
The same can be said for Oakland Street (if not even more).
Why dodn't the candidates make this one of the campaign issues, months ago?
It's funny because the Chief once told me that when they do speed traps in neighborhood where neighbors complain, most of the time the majority of people stopped or "arrested" as the Press would say, are people living in those neighborhoods! I say let the residents throw out spike strips when we see them speeding. especially when there are kids nearby. And the State should up the fine to $500 for using a cell while driving! I bet you'd see a big drop then. Right now people don't care about paying a lousy $100
Woodland Street-- 6A we call it.
50 miles an hour is nothing on Woodland Street.
Enforce the State Law that requires people to leave their driveways in the FORWARD direction .
It reallllllly irritates me when idiots whine about traffic when they REFUSE to obey the law themselves .
Perhaps if the police were to travel around and ticket every idiot that is parked in their driveway in such a manner that it forces them to BACK into a traveled roadway there would NOT be an issue of speeding .
IF you are sooooo poor a driver that you can't BACK into your driveway then you DEFINITELY should NOT be backing out .
If Big Brother, or is it little brother, at the Chamber doesn't think it is an issue, then it won't become one of importance.
Like Leone, he thinks he is mayor, but then, it seems to run in the familt.
WHAT DO ALL THE COPS DO BESIDES SOCIALIZE AND MEET THERE FRIENDS IN PARKING LOTS . LIKE THE SEARGENT ON 2ND SHIFT A B . NO LEADERSHIP.
Speed bumps would do the trick!
need real police force. THE CHIEFS FRIEND IN THE WHITE MINI VAN ON JEWEL ST IS THE BIGGEST OFFENDER. BUT HES IN A HURRY MAKING DELIVERIES. MOST ON NORTYH MAIN ST.
Whats good for the police is good for the public. They have no rules why should we.
Why cant we hire crossing guards for const jobs se we have cops on the street earning there pay instead of doing nothing.
We need leadership first then move forward.
The police dogs at least do there job. Thats it.
Maybe we should enforce the adultery law if it is still on the books! Not Mine said enforce the law that states you have to drive out of your driveway in the forward position because people back into a traveled roadway!What does that have to do with speeding!It's okay,to back into your driveway but not out of it!What planet are you from!I had to go back and read it several times it was so stupid!Are you running for Mayor or City Council?
10:41 has a good idea. Never thought of that before. Give the crossing guards some extra hours and have them direct traffic for roadwork areas. It would be a heck of a lot cheaper and more productive. Maybe the job would get done the right way too. And for those of you who say "the city doesn't pay the cops to work traffic detail, the construction company does"...did you ever think that the const co. includes those costs in their estimates/invoices and it IS actually the taxpayers of bristol that is paying for them? Stop being so naive!
Thats about all that earns there pay. Bristol cops have it made in bristol. No one overseeing them most of the supervisors have personal things going on like ANDY B. Hes the biggest slug and the chief does nothing.
MAkes sence to use crossing guards be a lot cheaper. HaS ANYONE SEEN A COP ON A CONST JOB DOING ANYTHING. This could save a lot of money. Lay off dead weight at the police station more money saved. fire the chief more savings . Replace him with a part timer more money saved.
9:52
Send the license plate to the mayor, then see what happens.
Or to Steve Collins.
Or the next mayoral canddiate.
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