Slow Down - Really

Since the earth has cooled, folks in neighborhoods have been trying to get people to slow down on their streets. Debates have raged over the years as to what to do about slowing traffic down in residential neighborhoods. In the 1920s on Portland, Oregon programs were developed focusing on school children and road safety. By the 1950s well-meaning neighbors would request (demand) traffic control signs be provided for their neighborhood – SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY. The legacy of its efficacy lingers to this day. Belief in slowing down vehicles with a static sign on streets built wide, open, straight and long is a folly of fools. It fails on nearly every front of human behavior and equity. While many residential streets have similar inhabitants, only some (entitled or well to do) neighborhoods get signs? Static signs for conditions that are at best infrequently present do not convey the human reaction to warning that ever present conditions present (such as curves, one-way, stopping, do not enter traffic controls). The vast majority of drivers either ignore the sign or have poor comprehension of the sign. But what are folks to do?

So let’s categorize the “who” does “what” for residential local streets. First designer and builders. Let’s start by not building any more local residential streets that are wide, open, straight, long and flat (sound like I just described the Bonneville Salt Flats speedway). Maybe when we had no computers and were into straight lines we needed local residential streets to be long and straight. No more. “Oh – that will be more expensive”….than what, the $500,000 we already are paying? So having a safe neighborhood costs more than that? Really? Com’on Suzie….Stop working in the no-think world and get creative for your fees (otherwise AI will be doing you work). Your job is to deliver residential neighborhoods where vehicle speeds naturally are 20 to 25 miles per hour. Get on it – NOW.

Second, agencies. There are things can be done to legacy neighborhoods with characteristics that encourage higher vehicle speeds – and they are not SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY signs. Traffic calming strategies have proven to reduce vehicle speeds on local residential streets. ITE is about to release an update to their recommended practice on vertical deflection techniques to reduce speed. FHWA has references on numerous traffic calming strategies. Agencies can inventory their neighborhoods, define what is needed, collaborate with emergency response partners and retrofit local residential streets that were not built appropriate for the context, characteristics and users. These are not expensive relative to the cost of houses these days. In fact, if folks are really dead set on signs instead of vertical deflection speed humps, tables, raised pedestrian crossings, raised intersections and fully mountable mini-roundabouts – think about vehicle speed feedback signs. These signs have the human behavior characteristics that actually can influence drivers (and it’s proven with research). These signs ignite a human psychological feedback loop specific to speeding and resist desensitization over time due to their dynamic nature. Many cities already have traffic calming plans and all should reflect on the recent findings from FHWA and ITE.

Finally homeowners. Let’s hope the day of calling and complaining to agencies with such irreverence about signs is over. Most people do not realize the extent of labor devoted to this task – even if they were to place a sign, their cost to taxpayers is not equitable (likely in the $200-$500++ when all labor, equipment and time are tallied). Try this on for size – DO. Most homeowners can spend $30-$40 and put up their own kids alert visual warning system or better yet – support local artists and get creative. In Portland, Michael Bennett has created a suite of slow “slow down” characters that a neighbor of ours has placed in their front yard (rotating the characters out routinely). We have names for each of the signs. Sammy, Sally, Suzie, Stevie, Cami, Mandy, Tommy. These signs are much more specific and to the point than the old school 1950s approach. By being creative, unique, on-topic and of visual interest, the chance for recognition goes up (unlike what a traffic control device is supposed to be). And Michael is exactly who should benefit from this innate desire to put up a sign – a creative artist. His Bennett Acres Farm & Flower Stand is very entrepreneurial. So, if you are compelled to share a message with your neighbors about their driving speed on wide, open, long, straight local residential streets – just do it – use your free speech - creatively. Shape your community.