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'Operation: Slow Down'

The new, high tech speed board (shown above) is aiding the West Springfield Police Department in educating the driving community about their excessive speeding habits. The speed board was witnessed by Reminder Publications staff while placed on Amostown Road between Deer Run Road and Galaska Street last week. The "SLOW DOWN" message appeared in the above photo after a driver had passed traveling 42 mph in a 30 mph zone. Reminder Publications photo by Katelyn Gendron
West Springfield gets tough on speeding



By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD For the past three weeks a new, high-tech speed board has been strategically placed on densely traveled streets throughout town.

At Town Council meetings, neighborhood meetings and Town Council's Traffic and Safety Committee meetings, residents are continuing to speak up about the abundant number of speeding drivers.

Responding to the growing concern, the Traffic and Safety Committee and the Ordinance Committee are reviewing town laws for possible amendment with regard to traffic and safety concerns; the Police Department is taking advantage of the new sign board's ability to record speeding data, allowing the department to pinpoint high density speeding areas; and residents are joining together to implement Operation Slow Down to promote "traffic calming" throughout their neighborhoods.

"We have to adopt [legislation] to get tough on speeders," Town Councilor Paul Boudo, also chair of the Traffic and Safety Committee, said in an interview with Reminder Publications. "We have to get a reputation that we just don't tolerate speeding. [Residents] have the privilege of driving a car, then they have an obligation to obey the rules."

The newest speed board which cost approximately $16,000, according to town officials is the latest addition to the Police Traffic Division's three-man enforcement unit. For those driving the legal limit the board flashes each driver's speed and also a "DRIVE SAFELY" reminder. For speeders a blue light will begin to blink as well as their speed and a "SLOW DOWN" message will appear.

Sgt. Daniel Spaulding, an advisor to the Traffic and Safety Committee, and also in charge of the Police Department's Traffic Division, explained that the new speed board records each car that passes by, including its speed, time and date. This data, he added, is then compiled into graph charts displaying the average speeds throughout the day. Spaulding said this data allows the department to pinpoint streets that require additional enforcement.

Spaulding noted that the board does not record license plate numbers. The board will also deactivate if a speeder is going well over the legal limit, such as 75 mph in a 30 mph zone. "It won't give them the satisfaction of seeing their speed," he said of the deactivation mode. Spaulding went on to explain that young drivers have been known to race through the board to see their excessive speed.

He noted that speeding throughout town is occurring consistently on "cut-through" streets such as Piper, Morgan and Amostown roads.

"Piper Road is parallel to Riverdale Road without stop lights," Boudo explained of many drivers' decision to drive on Piper Road to avoid a possibly slower commute on Riverdale Road.

District 4 Councilor John Sweeney, also a member of the Traffic and Safety Committee, said many residents in his district have come forward to address speeding problems within their neighborhoods.

Sweeney said he believes that the speed board is serving as an education model for the greater West Springfield community.

"I personally believe that Piper Road and Morgan Road are not as bad as they were," he said, adding that the town must "continue to address the situation."

While viewing the sign board placed on Amostown Road, between Deer Run Road and Galaska Street, on April 23 from 12:19 to 12:51 p.m., this reporter recorded 66 cars with an average speed of 30 mph. The posted speed limit is 30 mph.

This reporter observed that many drivers slowed down upon seeing the speed board; only a few sped up. While the speed limit was subsequently obeyed on Amostown Road, this reporter took a drive on Piper Road and observed excessive speeds from other drivers, including a near accident.

"The problem we face is the nut behind the wheel doesn't care about anything other than their own personal destination," Boudo said at the Precinct 1 and 2 Neighborhood meeting on April 8.

At the meeting, Police Sgt. Lawrence Larrabee noted that the neighborhood residents in this area of town work closely with the Community Police to ensure that their concerns about speeding drivers are addressed promptly. He said the major thoroughfares for speeding drivers exist on Main and Union streets and Memorial Avenue.

Larrabee explained that in the past month 57 car stops were made within these two precincts, noting that the stops were not just speeders but also unregistered or uninsured vehicles. He said that since taking this post at the Main Street Sub Station last September, approximately 102 citations were written to drivers. Larrabee was quick to note that officers are not given quotas for issuing citations.

"It's improved considerably," Larrabee said of the lowering number of speeding drivers in Precincts 1 and 2. "We'll get the radar gun out and go get our speeders."

He noted, however, "We're community police and traffic is just a small portion of what we do."

District 1 Councilor Angus Rushlow called for increased enforcement and citations. "You have to hit them in the pocket book," he said, explaining that the only way people will stop speeding is if they know they will lose money.

The Traffic and Safety Committee will have their next meeting on April 24 at 4 p.m.