Is Summers Soft on Speeding & Tailgating?

[Lori Allen _]

Today I happened to meet some concerned citizens on Bunts Rd. between Detroit & Franklin. They voiced their concerns about the mayor's lack of concern for speeding and tailgating on Bunts that has been happening over the past couple of years. As I have been out walking this summer, I have been on many streets where speeding is a major problem. Here are the streets that I have personally been on and have the worst speeders in Lakewood:

- Bunts
- Chesterland between Madison & Lakewood Heights
- Waterbury between Lakewood Heights & Franklin
- Wascana
- Wyandotte
- Elbur
- Clifton
- Lake
- Nicholson
- Robinwood
- Manor Park
- Marlowe
- Belle
- Warren
- Wagar
- McKinley
- Clarence

I could go on and on, but I think everybody gets the point. With all of the walkers, bikers, elderly residents, and children, I am surprised that we have not had a higher rate of motor vehicle vs. pedestrian collisions.

The residents on Bunts shared with me and gave me permission to post the below e-mail a resident received from the mayor about a year and a half ago where he attempts to address the citizen's concerns.

Why does it seem that whenever someone contacts City Hall with a question or concern, there is always a reason why it is not the city's fault and why nothing can be done?

[Missy Limkemann]

Add Waterbury between Franklin and Detroit. OMG the speeding past my house is insane. And I have that huge front yard and I still fear my kids outside. It is worse now with St. Ed's traffic. I had to call and send several emails to everyone last year because of it.

[Phil Florian]

So glad the email was posted. What are the specific concerns from the response? It seems he has some ideas and has some stats. He has tried to address this on Woodward with an experiment. What is the "soft" part?

You listed more streets than our local police force can sit on to wait for that 3% and that is only what you took from your data. You can throw on Northland where I live, too. People tear down there frequently to avoid Woodward light.

I guess my question is what is our law enforcement priorities? As bad as it is we have so many patrol cars on duty at any one moment. When there is a domestic violence call, drug bust, car accident, robbery, car break in, etc. police are pulled to to those scenes and in good practice tend to take two patrol cars to deal with it. Which leaves less cars there to sit and watch Bunts or Nicholson or Lake or Clifton or...

So what would you give up in law enforcement priority to address speeding on the large amount of streets that would need to be covered to not be soft? Would Summers be considered soft on car break ins when officers are delayed in coming to your house because they cannot leave their post on Bunts,, Lake, Woodward, etc until traffic is reduced?

Just curious. I see a very political response with some attempt to discuss what has to be weighed. Sure it didn't get the chick weed out of your lawn (to paraphrase an old PJ O'Rourke quote about politicians) but it tried to address your question. Did this dialogue continue?

[Lori Allen _]

Hi Phil,

I understand where you are coming from in regards to potentially more serious issues that our police face. I feel that urban-like crime is a major issue. However, in an older thread here on the Deck, Ryan Salo obtained records and statistics from the Division of Police that show that the amount of speeding tickets written has dropped 70% between 2008 and 2013. Also according to the records Mr. Salo posted, there has been a decrease in the amount of arrests, priority calls, and general calls for service to the police since 2008. I am not really seeing a correlation between calls and police on-duty that would warrant a decrease in tickets issued.

According to the study Killing Speed and Saving Lives by the United Kingdom Department of Transportation, in a motor vehicle vs. pedestrian collision, the pedestrian is 40% more likely to die when the vehicle is traveling at 30 MPH as opposed to 20 MPH and another 40% more likely to die at 40 MPH.

According to the study Vehicle Speeds and the Incidence of Fatal Pedestrian Collisions by the Australian Federal Office of Road Safety, in a pedestrian vs. motor vehicle collision, the likelihood of a pedestrian fatality is 5% at 20 MPH, 37% at 30 MPH, and 83% at 40 MPH.

See http://humantransport.org/sidewalks/SpeedKills.htm to see these studies.

In 2013, 9,613 people died in motor vehicle crashes where speed was determined to be a factor. See http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/overview-of-fatality-facts

Also in 2013, the percentage of crash deaths involving speeding was higher on minor roads at 35% compared to interstates and major roads, see http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/overview-of-fatality-facts

I could go on and on, but I think statistics and studies show that the dangers surrounding speeding are very real.

In regards to enforcement priorities, I would like to see the city invest in exploring the possibility of creating a small traffic unit within the police force that would allow a small number of officers to be devoted strictly to traffic enforcement (at least during the day shift). The mayor claims we currently have close to 100 officers on the force, and I think the city could certainly afford to devote a couple of these 90+ officers to traffic enforcement with the taxes we pay. For example, the mayor and council want to or have already passed a resolution to allow the city to purchase a fiber-optic communications system with a price tag of $900,000. I believe that we just purchased a new phone system within the past few years. Some of this money could better serve our residents by setting up a traffic unit.

Often, six to eight officers are sent to a call. However, I do not feel that this is always necessary.

We have a good police force here. However, the people that are paying the taxes should be able to live, walk, and drive on safe streets. I would like to see the danger dealt with before one of these speeding incidents results in a fatality, especially a child.

[Phil Florian]

Awesome response! I like the idea of dedicated high traffic time enforcement. What streets would best get it?

Do we have any data on how well the "traffic calming" is working or not? As much as I like the idea of increased police visability I know, like police cameras, it merely moves the violations to the unwatched parts of the city. What are other citywide solutions?

Weren't there also suggestions to cap off certain streets so they don't act as short cuts? Focus through traffic to less sheets for easier monitoring?

[Lori Allen _]

Hi Phil,

I believe the city currently uses Jammar Radar Recorders to collect the data (I think these are the small black boxes that are sometimes attached to utility poles). I have rarely seen these boxes except on Bunts, Belle, and sometimes Warren. Perhaps we need to collect data on all of the side streets, evaluate it, and determine which streets have the worst speeders. The streets with the worst speeders can have police on them at peak enforcement times. Currently, I think the problem is that I only see these radar recorders on a few streets.

As far as the traffic calming on Woodward, it does look like it has "calmed" traffic somewhat. However, I feel that the chicane idea on a street like Woodward is quite dangerous, as nobody knows who has the right-of-way and two cars cannot fit through the space. I have also heard that a sizable amount of the residents on Woodward do not like the chicane idea. If the city wants to go the "traffic-calming" route, I don't think chicanes are appropriate for Lakewood's streets. Speed tables may be better, as they do not create a right-of-way conflict and are not as bumpy for emergency vehicles. Studies show the speed tables typically bring speeds down to about 25 to 27 MPH.

Thoreau Rd. was recently resurfaced with new brick a few years ago. Although brick roads are noisy and more costly, they do seem to create a "rough road" perception and slow drivers down.

While capping off certain streets doesn't seem like a bad idea on the surface, I think it would create controversy. If one street was capped off but the other was not, the residents on the other street may be calling favoritism, cronyism, etc.

I hope this answers some of your questions. I do know that Tom Bullock, Councilman-At-Large, is the council member that heads up the Public Safety Committee. Maybe he would have more information to give you. If you live on Northland, I believe Sam O'Leary is your Ward councilman. He may also have more insight.

I hope I was able to somewhat able to help you. It is nice to see you back on the Deck.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Lori

Something to consider, I was told that in 2008 the police lost/stopped two cars that were there only for traffic enforcement.

This could certainly explain the drop in tickets issued after that date.


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