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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 26, 2004 Drivers in no hurry to slow down By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland drivers have been slow to adjust to changes to the speed limit in several spots throughout town. The new 20 mph speed limit is being ignored by a good portion of drivers on streets across the city. Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings In September, the Oregon Department of Transportation changed the speed limit on Lithia Way and through downtown on North Main and East Main streets from 25 to 20 mph, and from 30 mph to 25 mph from Grant Street to Helman Street after the city requested the changes. Last year, ODOT made a designation that allows cities to slow traffic on main streets that double as state highways. For years, people speeding through town resulted in many accidents and near misses with pedestrians, especially at the intersection of North Main and Hersey and Wimer streets, said City of Ashland Projects Manager Jim Olson. "We wanted to slow traffic down," he said. "The chances of survival of someone that's hit at 20 mph is much better than those struck at 25 mph." So far, Olson said reception has been positive to the changes, with people telling him with so many pedestrians walking through town, the change was needed. He said there have been some calls from people complaining the new speed limit is too low. The other change has been in the school zone speed limit, which was implemented statewide by ODOT on July 1. Now, school zones adjacent to schools on roads with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less are 20 mph zones at all times. Previously, the rule applied only when children were present. Ashland police officer Steve MacLennan said adherence to the new speed limits has been spotty. He estimated about half the drivers are following the rules, while the other half are having a harder time adjusting. In school speed zones, he said enforcement is mainly occurring before and after school, with about 6 to 8 tickets given on an average day, which was comparable to before the changes. He said enforcement at all times has not increased since the new law was implemented. Sgt. Teresa Selby said it's vital for people to understand the importance of slowing down. "A two- to three-minute difference in reaching your destination is a small price to pay if compared to getting in an accident and hurting or killing someone," she said. Richard Presicci of Ashland approved of the speed limit changes made in downtown and in school zones. "It's appropriate," he said. "If you go 25 to 30 mph, how much faster will you get there? I have kids and it teaches them the importance of being patient while driving." One of Presicci's pet peeves is still having people go faster than the posted speed limit. "I just don't like people that tail me," he said. "It would be really nice if people would understand the benefits of slowing down." For Joe Vidmar of Ashland, while slowing to 20 mph might seem like a good idea, it's not an easy thing to do, with so many other drivers not following the posted speed limit. "It's too slow," he said. "You can't keep holding it at 20 mph with all that other traffic. I think it's unreasonable." Bill Harnett of Talent said he still believed that people still go too fast down Ashland roads, but hoped, eventually, with more enforcement, more drivers will follow the rules. "When you go down the street you see people that are going 40 and 50 mph through town," he said. "I think [the speed limit changes] are a good idea because so many people cross the street through town." Stan Jacobson of Ashland was split about the speed limit changes. While he liked the changes through town, he was not as sure about the 20 mph speed limit in certain school zones at all times. Jacobson said that there are so many pedestrians downtown - many of whom don't use crosswalks - that it's a good idea to try to enforce the lower speed. He believed while it's appropriate to have signs telling vehicles to slow down to 20 mph when children are present, having it at all times is too excessive. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams