Protecting Pedestrians: Takoma Police Hope Portable Cameras Deter Speeding

In an effort to curb speeding and enhance pedestrian safety, Takoma Park will have semi-portable cameras that will move periodically along New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard.  

Here is a map of speed cameras in Montgomery County

On April 1, 2013 the Takoma Park council passed a resolution establishing Safe Speed Corridors, areas along a road where a semi-portable speed camera can be placed to prevent speeding over a larger area, on the heavily traveled New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard.

Fred Shultz, councilmember for ward 6, lives near New Hampshire Avenue and said speed cameras make a difference. He said he was in favor of the Safe Speed Corridors because slowing cars down will lessen the impact of pedestrian collisions, if they do occur, and will limit the possibility of accidents.

Jaywalking is an issue on New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard, particularly near Langley Park, according to Sergeant Kurt Gilbert. It is enough of an issue that Takoma Park Police have on occasions staked out near Langley Park and attempted to educate jaywalkers through pamphlets, according to Sgt. Gilbert.

Here is a timeline of fatal accidents in Montgomery County and Prince George's County

Because motorist will anticipate the Safe Speed Corridors, which are about a quarter-mile from the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard in Langley Park, it should reduce car collisions and the impact of possible pedestrian collisions, according to Sgt. Gilbert.

In a draft of the resolution to the council, Alan Goldberg, Chief of Police, said that the existing fixed cameras are effective but over time have just become “electronic speed bumps,” where drivers slow down near camera and then speed up again.

Having portable cameras along a road better prevents speeding because it “throws drivers off,” Sgt. Gilbert said.

The fixed cameras that were already at the site are limited in curbing speeding because they are unable to track multiple vehicles on multi-lane roads, according to a draft of the resolution.

The newer semi-portable cameras, however, “have improved computer, camera and laser speed detection technology to track multiple vehicles with more accuracy and detail” and can be placed at better angles for more precision, according to a draft of the resolution.

Michael McGirr, 59, of Takoma Park, said he was “all for [the Safe Speed Corridors],” as long as they don’t catch him, he joked.

During the council meeting discussing the resolution, Terry Seaman, councilmember for ward 4, expressed his concern that residents would view this mainly as a way to increase revenue rather than to promote safety.

As part of a draft of the resolution, Chief Police Goldberg also added a speed survey of six locations along New Hampshire Avenue, which was conducted during a 24-hour period.

Some of the data included speed surveys for March 22 through March 23, where police surveyed speeding at 7315 New Hampshire Ave (Takoma Park Recreation Center) and for March 26 through March 27, surveyed speeding at 6909 New Hampshire Ave (Sunoco Gas Station). There were 163 and 101 violations at those places, respectively, during this time period.

The draft of the resolution also included crash data for 2012, in which, there were 28 reported crashes between the 900 to 1300 block of University Boulevard and 78 reported crashes between the 6900 and 7600 block of University Boulevard.

The revenue from the speed cameras will go towards public safety, according to Sgt. Gilbert. 

Related Content: 

Protecting Pedestrians: Fatal Accidents and Traffic Cameras

Protecting Pedestrians: Enforcement and Educational Ploys Keep Pedestrians Safe