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Speeding On Randall


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#1 newfamtofolsom

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 01:23 PM

Hi all,

We're new to Folsom and have noticed speeding on Randall Dr. We've also had some neighbors mention that it's an ongoing problem, but nobody has done anything about it. I contacted our city council members, but only had 1 that seemed to attempt to do anything (he forwarded a request to the police dept. to put one of the boxes that show speeds on our street and to also patrol it). I requested that an officer just sit, one day, for any time and they'll ticket tons of people coming and going. I was asked what are the peak times and I responded 7:30/8 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. I then only saw a police officer 3 times DRIVE by, not sit and do so at 3 p.m., not the peak times.
How you catch someone speeding while you're driving by, I'm not sure.

I contacted the police dept. myself and was told the Lt. that used to be in charge had moved to another position, he cc'd the new contact. I never heard from the new PD contact and then emailed him directly, still no response.

I also contacted Folsom Hills Elementary asking if they could remind parents dropping off or picking up their kids that this is a residential area. After all these contacts, nothing has happened. I was told that we can't have speed bumps in the city due to aesthetics. I was also told that only a request can be put in by the city council members, but they can't make the PD patrol the street. I've had no response from the Folsom PD.

We moved here from the city for the same reasons many do, safety, for a more family atmosphere, etc. We have many families, kids alone and people with pets walking on our street while people easily exceed the 25 mph, residential area speed.

A car here or there isn't good, but it's normal. However, the majority of cars that pass on Randall are speeding. Any tips/ideas from anyone on how to address this issue? I don't feel safe with my kids riding their bikes on our side walks. From what it seems, those who could make an impact don't seem to care.

#2 Steve Heard

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 02:14 PM

Hi NewFam

This is an ongoing problem and has been for many years. I live nearby off of Rebecca and have the same observations and concerns. The problem is, so do the folks on Willow Creek, McFarland, Briggs Ranch, Flower and Livermore. All of these cut through our neighborhood and we all have the same complaints.

So, where do the cops sit and wait? How do they prioritize? Who gets the cruiser on the corner? We're just talking about one neighborhood.

I sell homes all over Folsom and can tell you that residents in Lexington Hills have the same concerns about both North and South Lexington, as well as Prewitt and Silberhorn.

In fact, every neighborhood in Folsom seems to have the same issue.

Although I'd love to see more police enforcement, I think it is a manpower and priority issue. They don't have enough people to blanket the city with traffic officers, and that's pretty much what we'd need.

Another alternative is PR and community involvement. Years ago another myfolsom member (forumreader) and I started the 'Slow Down Folsom' campaign. We bought and gave out lawn signs and got the City Council to declare May 'Slow Down Folsom' month. We had some success, but also had some complaints and limited participation.

I've still got signs if anyone wants them. Maybe we can resurrect the program if we can find volunteers to handle it.

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#3 newfamtofolsom

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 02:24 PM

Steve,

I understand everyone has the concern, but what I don't understand is just because it happens everywhere doesn't make it right. I also understand limited manpower and am willing to do my part in the community. I am in favor of resurrecting your past efforts and let me know what I can do.
I was just taken back by the lack of response from both the PD (any response is better than none) and from Folsom Hills (I just asked that they remind their parents in their bulletin).

#4 Deb aka Resume Lady

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 02:34 PM

Deb's theory for the day: there are people who drive with respect for the law and concern for others and there are people who don't, and no amount of reminding from school bulletins will change those who do not care. People know what the speed limits are, they know they are in school zones, and they know they are in residential neighborhoods and they just don't give a hoot. The police do what they can, but as Steve has pointed out people complain about traffic all over the city and officers have to balance this concern with other duties.

How do you change people's driving habits? Good question! Speeders, people who text while driving, people who change lanes and turn without signaling, people who tail others on the freeway, etc. all think they know what they're doing and think they're safe......until it's too late and they cause an accident.
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#5 ducky

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 02:36 PM

What Steve said just about covers it.


Newfamtofolsom, I applaud your efforts. Asking the school to include that in their bulletin was a good idea.

I know this is no help, but at least take comfort in the fact that your neighborhoods have sidewalks for the children to walk on to get to school. Try and imagine the children that have to walk at the top of School Street or Dean during school drop-off and pick-up times. It's like walking on the side of the freeway where, apparently, stop signs are only a suggestion to some drivers, half of whom are on cell phones.

Best of luck to you.

#6 Robert Giacometti

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 03:24 PM

Steve,

I understand everyone has the concern, but what I don't understand is just because it happens everywhere doesn't make it right. I also understand limited manpower and am willing to do my part in the community. I am in favor of resurrecting your past efforts and let me know what I can do.
I was just taken back by the lack of response from both the PD (any response is better than none) and from Folsom Hills (I just asked that they remind their parents in their bulletin).

Welcome to the forum and too the neighborhood!

I'd suggest talking to some of your neighbors on Randal and ask them, how they feel about this issue. If they have concerns like you do then I'd suggest everyone writing letters to the PD and sending copies to the council members. I suspect you would get a better response.

In the past the PD had those flashing signs indicating ones speed as they went by, I can't EVER recall seeing these on Randal. This does have a calming effect on traffic and is easily set up.

Part of the challenge with Randal is the long down hill slope toward BRD. Its very easy to be going 30 mph with your foot off the gas. I always thought there should be another stop sign somewhere on Randal in BR, to slow traffic down.

Another option would be to get the speed gun and video camera and tape the speeders as they come by.

Don't give up on your efforts, you will get results!

#7 newfamtofolsom

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 03:46 PM

Thanks for the encouragement. I did suggest speed limit signs going toward BR Drive and also suggested a stop sign in the same location you were describing. I was told that the city engineer/council member would look into it. If that changes anything, who knows. I'm not holding my breath.

As for the sidewalks, yes I am happy we have them. However, I had a neighbor tell me a story of how someone was texting while driving, hit a parked car and was up on the sidewalk. They're sidewalks, not barriers, unfortunately.

Again, we came from Sacramento in an area that had limited police because they were usually responding to calls downtown/midtown and South Sac. However, the city council member that lived in the area was very responsive to the local area, the community was very tight knit and there was a direct line to call/report incidents (I never had to use it, fortunately). Also, they have a website to report neighborhood info. on (this is all for East Sac). The police were very responsive even though they had cut backs, limited manpower, more crime than Folsom. It's just too bad that a simple request can't be looked at more seriously than "it happens everywhere". I would think it would be easy revenue generated, but maybe I don't know enough.

I have spoken to my neighbors and they were the ones that initially had made comment to me about the speeding on our street. It's definitely an idea to get them all to sign a letter stating our issue with the problem and to send it to the city council and/or police dept. I'm just amazed at the attitude I seem to be encountering like everyone throws their hands up and says, "oh well". I don't think it takes much effort to do more than what's been done.


Welcome to the forum and too the neighborhood!

I'd suggest talking to some of your neighbors on Randal and ask them, how they feel about this issue. If they have concerns like you do then I'd suggest everyone writing letters to the PD and sending copies to the council members. I suspect you would get a better response.

In the past the PD had those flashing signs indicating ones speed as they went by, I can't EVER recall seeing these on Randal. This does have a calming effect on traffic and is easily set up.

Part of the challenge with Randal is the long down hill slope toward BRD. Its very easy to be going 30 mph with your foot off the gas. I always thought there should be another stop sign somewhere on Randal in BR, to slow traffic down.

Another option would be to get the speed gun and video camera and tape the speeders as they come by.

Don't give up on your efforts, you will get results!



#8 Redone

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 06:51 PM

You can get the 2 wheelers to work the street and take some time off from the School area. Once they leave though the speeders will come back.

(2 wheel motor cops)

#9 ducky

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Posted 28 November 2011 - 07:38 PM

It was quite a few years ago, but Wales Drive tried to tackle the problem by each house putting "Slow Down" or "25 MPH" signs in all the yards. As soon as the signs were down, people went back to their usual behavior.

Hope you find the magic bullet where others have failed.

You said speed bumps are out. Is there any way they could do some sort of roundabouts to make people slow down on the hill?

#10 Darth Lefty

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 07:09 AM

Orangevale and Gold River both have permanent "Your Speed" signs. I'm not sure if they work or not. They seem to spend more time flashing, which indicates nearly everyone is 5 over.

Part of why people speed is psychological - if you have a big empty open road in front of you, why obey a speed limit that seems fatuous? The traffic calming measures on the north end of Natoma Station Drive seem to have worked great. You seldom see anyone blasting along once they reach the trees. The big prominent double crosswalks throw everyone for a loop. I've seen people stop there because they pay more attention to road markings than signs and assume it's a stop sign.
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#11 Harold

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 11:40 AM

Part of why people speed is psychological - if you have a big empty open road in front of you, why obey a speed limit that seems fatuous?

That is so correct. In fact, it also is why Radar gun speeding tickets require the street be surveyed for statistical data. It's been determined that most people drive as fast as they feel safe to do. If the survey shows that the 80% tile speed is significantly over the posted speed limit, Radar can not be used to ticket people going at or under the 80% tile speed even though they are over the posted speed limit.
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#12 tsukiji

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 11:57 AM

That is so correct. In fact, it also is why Radar gun speeding tickets require the street be surveyed for statistical data. It's been determined that most people drive as fast as they feel safe to do. If the survey shows that the 80% tile speed is significantly over the posted speed limit, Radar can not be used to ticket people going at or under the 80% tile speed even though they are over the posted speed limit.


Don't take this as a personal critique. But given the prevalence of accidents, hit-run and other traffic tragedies reported in the news, perhaps we, the people, are not the best arbiters of safe speed. This methodology seems flawed.

#13 Sparkey

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 12:21 PM


I have some experiance regarding many of these issues, perhaps I can help some. All speed signs do is inform one of a speed that is thought to be safe to operate a motor vehicle in a givin location. But! in order for it (the speed sign) to have any effect one must obey the speed limit givin. And the reality of the matter is, that while some of us are good followers and will do what we are told to do, there are also some of us that don't. I guess the point that I am trying to make is: Suggestions will only work on some people. Demands will only work on some folks and so on. So much for psychy.

Also, I have dealt with speed reminding devices. And quite frankly that is all they do is remind one who has perhaps had a temporary laps in memory that the safe speed is for example 25mph. While many of us will do this whitout the need to be reminded, many of us will not, say either by ignoring the limits or justifying it somehow. Any way the point is all they appear to do is cost our comunity money and put it in someone elses pocket. In other words they don't work!

By the way I am having the same problem by my house near Pioneer Drive and Flower Drive. The speed signs are up and ignored!!! Not by my neighbors mind you, but by "others" using it as a shortcut. And that's fine I've done the same. But, I try to respect others as I would like them to respect me! Now the posted speed is 25mph, I would say maybe 5% do that speed, while I would estimate that say about 90% run by at between 35 up to 45mph (avg-approx 40mph). Oh ya I almost forgot the other 5%. Is of course driveing at an estimated 45mph +++.

Ok, with me so far? The Police! I also have experiance in law enforcement! So that said, we are all different and yet we are all the same! Law Enforcement is under constant pressure: Politically, Profesionally, Socially and Personally. You say we all are well to some degree we are, But! Most of us don't have to make life or death decisions nearly as often and unfortunately some loose sight of The Protect and Serve Moto and all to often wind up becoming revenue collectors for councels, commisioners etcetera. Anyway my point here is that while there is often time to drive by an area once in a while other priorities that the general public are not often aware of take precedense for one reason or another. So there's generally not time to sit on just one spot ofen as there are many of these spots that need whatching. It appears to me that if people respected their neighbors back yards (other neighborhoods) as much as their own, I don't believe this would be much of an issue.

Alright, so what's the solution? (imediate solution). Well I don't see any of these other issues changing at least for a while. So, we can certanly try to catch the attention of our civic leaders on a regular basis to potrol more. But I think we know that's really not going to work at least long term. So what's left? Well, I heard it said that speed bumps are unsightly??? Uh!@ they can be but don't have to be... I lived in Vegas for a while in some very nice neighborhoods. They had "speed bumps"! But not just any speed bumps, their speed bumps were gradual and very almost gracefull! I would have no problem driving "any fine or sports automobile" over these bumps as they are so graceful, meaning: wide and gradual. They were not ubrupt or unsightly as are so many others. The point here is that they did not detract from the neighborhood, and the quite simply "Worked"!

Sincerely,
Sparkey

#14 newfamtofolsom

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 01:29 PM

Sparkey,

I appreciate your thoughts/comments. I'm in favor of speed bumps, but as a last resort. However, it's not even an option (according to the city council). It's not allowed in Folsom period. I also understand people do as they wish, however I believe consequences do change behavior too. If I know I'll have to pay a fine for speeding in particular areas, that's a huge incentive to obey the law.
I'm not asking for the police to patrol my neighborhood or sit there every day or even on a regular basis. I've asked just once and I can't even get that.
I also believe that many of the people in positions to help are elected officials. Given that, I say that we remember their responses to the communities needs (traffic or otherwise) at times that we go to the polls. Out of the 3 council members, one didn't reply at all, one did and basically had an "oh well, happens everywhere" attitude and then tried some self promotion about her radio show and the last was the only one that was willing to look at the issue and forward my emails to the police dept.
I understand resources are limited, but isn't that always the answer we hear? If they are, then maybe the community needs to be made aware of that and given options as to how we, as a community, can make changes to help. Obviously, this seems to be an ongoing issue in many of Folsom's neighborhoods. I'm willing to do my part and I'm sure many more are judging from the number or responses on this issue here.
Change doesn't happen with the attitude of "it happens everywhere" as I've seem to encounter. I'm not saying we can solve the problem 100% everywhere, but why not TRY to do what we can?
I'm willing to attend city council member meetings, etc. Last I looked at the city's website, there were no meetings set up for any traffic meetings. It was blank when I looked a few weeks back.
I will be posting a sign on my lawn, thanks to a previous poster's idea, whether people choose to ignore it or not. I will also be talking with my neighbors about drafting up a letter to send to any and all elected officials in the area.
I hope everyone continues the discussion until we come up with some possible solutions.

#15 supermom

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Posted 29 November 2011 - 02:01 PM

take away their reason for using your street as a shortcut.....

so, if you cant get a speed bump, then change the rules of driving.

Make some of the roads one way...or No turn right from a targeted corner (awesome solution--forcing them to go waaay out of their way, they don't come back:).

ofcoarse..it still requires you to go through the traffic planning commission or whatever it is called in each city, for permission to get the change approved....




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