Monday, November 17, 2008

Driving in the Borough

A reader sent a note questioning several aspects he's noticed about drivers actions in the borough specifically on Broad and Prospect area and wondered about police enforcement of speed limits in the borough.

Some specific issues he raised:
  • Could someone maybe tell me why broad and prospect isn't controlled by the police more? I have been told it is because it is actually part of 191 a state highway by another resident. We have seen many accidents in this area...a van flipping over and just recently a child hit by a car.
  • The speed traveled on this road by cars is ridiculous and the limit is not enforced.
  • I never see police presence. There is also a daycare center in this area. I was also caught in the middle of some kind of chase/bust in front of the daycare and I called the daycare on my cell phone to warn them of what was going on and to not let the children out...had it not been for me warning them who knows what could have happened. I was staring at many police with guns drawn and I drove right into the middle of it. It was so terrifying I thought I may be shot.
  • I don't understand why there isn't more police presence in this area. Is it because it is considered a state road and should be policed by the state. Broad and Prospect is dangerous because everyone drives too fast and they go around other cars in the middle of an intersection....I thought it was illegal to pass on the right. Why isn't it enforced?
For the most part, I can't say I disagree. I have mostly complained from the standpoint of pedestrians, who struggle to safely get through town. Some steps have been taken, such as the cross walk signs, but there is much more that could be done.

Broad and Prospect, as well as Tatamy Road intersection are dangerous given the speeds and number of turns made. Yes that is technically route 191, but it is in the Borough of Nazareth so I'd imagine our police have jurisdiction there.

Also a challenge is Center and New. Most cars traveling south on New turning right onto Center don't stop.

Chief Sinclair has promoted officers getting into stores and shops and I saw we have two bikes up and running now. Maybe the next step in securing the heart of the borough is traffic enforcement. I'd imagine 15-20mph over the speed limit a few times a week would generate a fair amount of revenue and it won't talk long for word to spread that you'll get a ticket if you speed in Nazareth.

What do you think? Should the police start strict enforcement of speed limit in the Borough?

4 comments:

anonymous said...

Most local people know NOT to speed on the main street going through Tatamy. Why?? Because there is a constant police presence. Many times I have seen a car stopped by police. What does this mean to me? I always make sure I am going no faster then 35 when I travel through Tatamy. It could work in Nazareth if the police made their presence felt and ticketed speeders!

ryan said...

The worst and this is up for arguments is coming from S green Street (the light next to the rite aid), i must have seen in the past 2 months at least 10 cars run the red light (the cars on 248 heading into bath and the opposite way into nazareth.) and ever since they repaved south green and prospect, it has become a drag strip. hopefully noone gets hurt or killed before something is done.

Nazareth Citizen said...

You make good observations. Please take it to the next step. Call the chief via Borough phone number, he's a reasonable man and always willing to meet with residents. Also make your concerns heard a borough council meeting held first Monday of every month 7PM at council chambers.

Good luck...

Wayne said...

Ryan, you beat me to it...
Though South Green was bad even before they paved it. I had a truck parked overnight curbside only to wake up to see it was rear ended by a (probably drunk) hit & run. I told the officer that they could make a lot of money on tickets here, but he said without the speed limit posted there's not much they can do.

The white lines in Tatamy and on Main St in Nazareth do the trick. Hate to admit it but I got a citation a few years back for flying up Main St. hill. Much more conscious of my in town speed now... especially when I see those white lines on the street.