Ask Anne - Fast traffic in a Slow Neighborhood

Dear Anne: I’m writing to you because our neighborhood has been dealing with a lot of traffic lately, and it’s becoming a safety concern. Cars are speeding through our streets, and it’s especially dangerous for our children playing outside. Do you have any suggestions on how we can get the traffic to slow down in our neighborhood? I’ve put a sign by the road but they don’t pay attention to it. Sincerely, Worried Neighbor ----- Dear Worried: We contacted law enforcement in our area, and the response was the same for all, so call the particular department associated with your municipality. They all offered to send an officer right out and/or to put on extra patrol in the area. (We suggest you keep a log of the times of day you see a speeding car for assisting the officers.) You can also call the Street Department of each municipality to get speed bumps installed. But in the interim, we like your proactive stance with the signage. However, in our research, we found these options to be a consideration in the short term: DIY Speed Bump - Drag pruned tree branches partially across the road and place a line of traffic cones in front of the tree branches. As the car slows down, take a picture of the make/model and license plate to provide to law enforcement. (Security cameras can also be used for this task.) But this is the one we like the best. DIY Speed Trap - Sit on the side of the road wearing a reflective vest. Point a black hairdryer (with the cord removed) at passing vehicles. Look intently at the back of the dryer as if one is gauging speed. Thanks for being a concerned citizen who is willing to take action when you see a problem. ---- The opinions or views expressed in this column are not intended to treat or diagnose; nor are they meant to replace the treatment and care you may receive from a licensed counselor, physician, or mental-health professional. In addition, they may, or may not, represent the views of this newspaper. Have a question? Email: AskAnne@baycountycoastal.com or mail to Bay County Coastal, PO Box 1331, Lynn Haven, FL 32444