City targets drivers speeding through neighborhoods

In February, the City of Knoxville put police officers on overtime to target speeding motorists in areas throughout the city where we had received chronic complaints. In just one week, these officers wrote nearly 500 tickets - one to a driver going 65 miles per hour on a street where the posted speed limit was 35. Increased enforcement is just one of the strategies we are pursuing to reduce the speed of traffic in neighborhoods around the city.

The effort is funded by $210,500 earmarked for traffic calming initiatives in this year's budget and will build upon recommendations developed by the Residential Neighborhood Traffic Safety Committee. The committee, comprised of City Council members, community volunteers and City staff, met over nine months to study the problem and possible solutions.

In its first year, the traffic calming initiative will rely heavily on increased enforcement and public awareness of the dangers posed by speeding motorists. The Knoxville Police Department has bought 40 hand-held traffic radar units and since February 2 has been deploying 12 four-hour shifts - two in each Council district - to target violators in priority locations.

City officials will receive monthly reports to evaluate the impact of the enforcement strategy, and will work with City Council members to identify new locations when the number of violators drops significantly.

The City has also begun to install "Neighborhood Enforcement Zone" signs under existing speed limit signs to encourage motorists to slow down.

Many homeowner associations have expressed interest in additional traffic calming devices, ranging from street closures to speed bumps. We've instituted a process recommended by the Residential Neighborhood Traffic Safety Committee for neighborhoods to petition for additional traffic calming devices. That process includes neighborhood meetings, mailings and a vote to forge community consensus for proposed solutions. The process is outlined in detail on the City's website at www.cityofknoxville.org.

I have committed to earmarking funds for traffic calming initiatives in next year's budget and expect that the financial emphasis will shift from enforcement to neighborhood-based plans as residents reach consensus on the best plan for them.

Our strategy of enforcement, education and engineering is aimed at reducing vehicle speeds, improving safety, and enhancing quality of life.

Safe streets for our residents is one of the City's top priorities, but the most effective, lasting solution is for us all to remember when we are driving that every street is in someone's neighborhood.


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