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Speeding in cul-de-sacs

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by luftinarr, Apr 28, 2008.

  1. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    It does not even need to be that complicated. Loudoun has a traffic hotline that all you need to do is call and report the day time and approximate location of the violation. If they get enough calls for an area they will start to patrol it more heavily. This works for all VDOT streets. Here is the article I posted in the March newsletter.
    How Broadlands can Stop Speeding​
    We all know speeding is a problem here in our neighborhood. Whether it is the person rushing from one event to the next, the neighbor who just needs to be somewhere right now, the teenager who is running late for school, or whoever for whatever reason, it happens here every day and most of us have witnessed it at one point or another. Now there is something YOU can do to help us stop the speeding and make our neighborhood safer. The Loudoun County sheriff’s office has established a traffic hotline (703 771 5798 then #1) that allows residents to report suspected speeding and other traffic violations. There is no need for a license plate number or knowing who the speeder is, all that is needed is an approximate time and location of the event. So how does it work? The Traffic division of the sheriff’s office has ten patrols that get strategically placed in the county every day. Where and when the patrols are stationed is determined by where the traffic division has the most reported incidents. If each resident takes the time to call and leave a message on the hotline when they witness a traffic infraction there will be an increase number of reports for our community thus increasing the chances of having a patrol placed here on our streets. Besides watching our own speeds throughout the community this is the next step to help reduce speeding here in Broadlands. Our community can only be as safe as each resident who lives helps make it, so please help us out so Broadlands can continue to be a beautiful and safe place to live.

    Staci
     
  2. fidothedog

    fidothedog Member

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    Is it okay for someone to take a video of the reckless driving (stop sign/light running, speeding, etc.) in the neighborhood, post it on youtube and then post a link from youtube to this site so everyone can see some of the reckless behavior?
     
  3. Hokie97

    Hokie97 New Member

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    I've called in the past (when I was passed on Ridgeway) and the driver was going too fast for me to catch the whole license plate. I got the first 3 letters and called that in w/ the make/model of the car. The police told me they could not do anything w/o the full license plate. I have since seen the car a few times (they must be a resident given the # of times and time of day they travel up Ridgeway) but by the time I realize it's "the car" I can't get the last 4 #'s b/c guess what...they are speeding. I haven't tried the new complaint # that was in the last newsletter but I will. Count me in to volunteer to call too - or get a petition going for something other than a police officer patrolling at 12pm when all the speeders are at work/school. (I do appreciate them coming, just wish we could tweak the timing). Ok, I think I'm done venting. :)
     
  4. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    I brought up the "posted speed limit" issue here before and someone responded that VDOT had long predetermined what to set them at. I was flabbergasted when Clairborne's speed limit went up to 45mph passing an elementary school yet drops to 40 past the Safeway plaza and down to 35 and 40 on Ashburn Farm Rd. Then we have Waxpool set at 40mph:rolleyes3: Why is it not possible for VDOT to lower the speed limit? Anyone out there have a reason other than it's a main thoroughfare?
     
  5. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    And don't forget Ashburn Village is 35 MPH......
     
  6. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I forgot about Ashburn Village. And, they have a very strong police presence to boot!
     
  7. quailpond06

    quailpond06 New Member

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    I actually think that Claiborne should be 45 mph, Shellhorn between Ashburn Village and Loudoun County Parkway should be raised to 45mph, and that the Loudoun County Parkway should be raised to 55 mph. These are main roads/thoroughfares/4 lane divided highways and if we keep lowering the speed limits, we probably wouldn't see a reduction in speeding at all--probably an increase in speeding instead.

    That being said, I do totally agree that residential streets that are off of Claiborne, Waxpool, Croson, etc. should be 25 mph and enforced strictly.
     
  8. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    More speeders to catch on that 35mph road than 45mph claiborne. Sometimes 35mph seems so slow on ashburn village, but I never go over the speed limit on claiborne.
     
  9. Silence Dogood99

    Silence Dogood99 New Member

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    It works in Ashburn Village. I automatically set my cruise control to 35mph because they stop cars often and enforce it...plus I think there is an extra $200 penalty there as well.

    I could make a living just writing speeding tickets on Moms in Minivans turning from Waxpool onto DeMott every morning.

    Agree on raising the speed limit per Quailpond's post.
     
  10. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    So why are you remarking about the speeding moms in minivans and suggesting the speed increase as well?

    The limit should be set at 40mph (no more, no less). You will always have speeders. But my reason for lowering the limit is due to the school, pedestrians and the fact that people tend to go 5-10 over the speed limit anyway. That doesn't justify increasing the limit. Does anyone know what criteria VDOT uses to set the speed limits?
     
  11. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Because speed limits do not dictate how poorly someone drives.

    Someone who ignores the environment, signs, or drives recklessly is going to do that regardless of the posted speed limit.

    When you have idiots passing people on blind curves on washed out, gravel roads like Syclion - speed limits being too high are not the problem.

    Which is why lowering the speed limits will do nothing to fix the problems seen so often here like people passing each other on neighborhood streets, blowing stop signs, ignoring the surroundings, etc.

    Clairbourne is fine - its a divided road with a median, and lots of buffer all around it. If anything all it needs is better pedestrian crossings and changing the speed limit 5mph isn't going to affect that.
     
  12. broken skull

    broken skull New Member

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    That stop sign is horrible. I always see people just blow right through it. I know Claiborne is 45 mph, but those Stop signs are huge and in plain view.
     
  13. Inverness

    Inverness New Member

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    So....Luftinarr....did you get your answer? Can you request the sign for your cul-de-sac? I think that signs might help remind drivers that there are kids present in the area - and particularly in the cul-de-sacs! Not a perfect solution, but better than what we have currently.

    I would most definitely support the increasing of safety signs throughout the Broadlands....:clap:....as there are some drivers that are absolutely terrible in our neighborhood! (no names or license plates here....But I am soooo tempted............)
     
  14. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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  15. Inverness

    Inverness New Member

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    Make sure you don't put it "on" the street, as police will fine you for obstruction of traffic. I put one on the curb, and it is usually ignored. Perhaps if everyone put one out....
     
  16. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Technically, children should not be playing in the street.

    However, on our cul-de-sac they all do, including mine on occasion. The kids play at the end (the round part) not the stem, and the parents and older kids do a good job of watching over the little ones. The people on our street are pretty close and so everyone knows that the kids will be out there and they drive more carefully - 5 out of the 8 houses toward the end of the cul-de-sac have their own kids who play in the street there.

    That doesn't make it safe and I would prefer that my child NOT play in the street there, but we still do. I feel guilty about that but we don't do it often - just if they're riding bikes, not general playing.
     
  17. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    so funny- we bought our house because of the yard so our kid could have a safe place to play with his friends and land when he dives for a ball... and where do they play???? ON THE CONCRETE IN THE CUL DE SAC! every kid here has a nice backyard and they rarely use them...lol
     
  18. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Legally, people shouldn't be speeding. ;)

    Regardless of the law, right or wrong, good parenting vs. bad parenting.... KIDS PLAY IN STREETS!
     
  19. Inverness

    Inverness New Member

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    So True! This is America and kids have been playing in Cul-de-sacs since they were invented. Families look for homes on cul-de-sacs as this is usually a desirable location and affords the opportunity to gather in the "circle". Families tend to look after each other and children ride bikes out there (with helmets) and enjoy the comraderie.

    It only starts to become a problem if a "neighbor" in the cul-de-sac gets pissy and calls the Sheriff's Department because "kids are playing in the cul-de-sac". Although I just can't imagine the Broadlands would have "neighbors" like that. :rolleyes3:
     
  20. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    Well - sometimes - and not in Broadlands - but another development in Ashburn...the kids are defiant and won't move to let you get to where you're going.
     

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