People call NBC12 for help with speed demons in neighborhood - NBC12 - WWBT - Richmond, VA News On Your Side

People call NBC12 for help with speed demons in neighborhood

By Melissa Correa - bio | email
Posted by Terry Alexander - email

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) – In the Great Oaks neighborhood, located near Hull Street Road and Courthouse Road, Rollingway Road runs straight through, and so do some speed demons who treat the 25 mile per hour speed limit more like a suggestion rather than the law.

"We have about 10 or 12 kids at the bus stop," explained neighbor Heather Doss. "They'll be crossing the road or going along side of the road. People don't slow down. They just fly on by."

"It's probably been 5-6 years, but there was a kid that was hit down at the end of the hill right here," said neighbor Michael Stevens. 

With our radar gun, drivers don't disappoint.

"Several years ago, somebody flipped a car coming into my neighbor's yard," said Doss. "I don't let my kids play in the front yard."

Michael Stevens doesn't let his kids walk alone. And if the family is walking down the street, when a car comes by, he tells his kids to get in the ditch.

Sick of people speeding, neighbors are now considering their options. They're looking at enhanced fine speed zones, children at play signs, even speed bumps- anything to get people to follow the law.

Police are aware of the lead foot drivers. In the last two years, they've come out 125 times for traffic enforcement. One day in 2009, VDOT logged every driver. Nearly half of them drove at least 10 miles over the speed limit. One person hit 95 miles-per-hour at three in the afternoon!

"If you're in a hurry, you should have left a little earlier," said Stevens.

Neighbors are now working to petition the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors which are the only ones who can approve methods like enhanced fine speed zones or speed bumps.

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