To the Editor:

The Police Commission has announced that it is considering hiring another traffic engineering firm to address the high number of accidents at the Flagpole intersection [“Flagpole Traffic Study Considered,” The Bee, June 5, 2015].  Before the commission spends the money on another study that could have ramifications beyond town control, I’d like to suggest some steps that could reduce the number of accidents immediately.  Accidents could be decreased by a crackdown on excessive speeding, reckless passing on the right, and use of the parking shoulder in front of the Newtown [Savings] Bank and Chase Building on Main Street as an additional lane.

It is both shocking and alarming to see how fast many drivers enter that intersection from the north.  Often in addition to speeding, drivers are passing on the right—regardless of whether the cars ahead of them are turning left or continuing straight through the intersection.  Adding to the danger is drivers using the parking shoulder as a third lane.  I’ve witnessed drivers attempting to pass on the right and slowing down to allow crossing traffic to pass – only to have another car pass them on the right. Regular presence of a patrol car might serve as a rush-hour deterrent to this madness.

Within a small area we have crosswalks, churches, businesses, Edmond Town Hall, the library, and many private residences, and traffic approaching the intersection at speeds well in excess of the posted 30 MPH. The crosswalks are especially dangerous.  Cars speeding and passing on the right often don’t slow down, let alone stop, for pedestrians in the cross walks as the law requires.  I often wish I could ask the driver if he/she drives this way in their own neighborhood where their friends and family members could be injured? Or how would they feel if someone driving on their street treated it like a racetrack?

The last time a traffic engineering firm was hired to evaluate borough traffic problems, the main objective was discouraging drivers from using Queen Street with anticipated result of moving that traffic to the Flagpole. Before more money is spent on a traffic study, let’s trying enforcing the laws we already have to improve the safety at the Flagpole and on Main Street. 

Sincerely,

Karen Boyle and Mark Poirier

53 Main Street, Newtown                 June 8, 2015