Some residents along St. Andrews Dr. are concerned for the safety of their children and grandchildren because they have noticed an unacceptable frequency of pets and squirrels being run over on St. Andrews Dr. where their children ride their bikes and scooters. What?’s the connection between crushed squirrels and their children - the same risk of danger from car drivers.
So what should we do? We can change our driving and the environment. Some residents propose a stop sign to slow traffic. This seems to be low cost, but it would annoy residents approaching the sign, and eventually be ignored. For proof, think of the worthless stop sign at the intersection of Inverness and Tantallon. Who stops there? Expert opinion indicates that stop signs without an obvious value become ineffective. So what else? Here?’s my thoughts to start the discussion. First, parents must supervise their kids who have not learned about street safety and they need to keep their yards friendly so drivers?’ periphery will not be obstructed by bushes, bulky mailboxes, parked cars, and large signs. Second, kids need to make street safety a habit and not play on St. Andrews Dr. or Tantallon. Third, residents should get to know the children along St. Andrews Dr. who play in the street so we will keep their safety better in mind. Fourth, we need to add five minutes to our estimated driving times to get through the neighborhood to eliminate the urge to speed. Some of us might also consider driving along Tantallon and St. Andrews in first gear until we are confident our cars have been trained to drive slower. Fifth, we can find a place the kids will prefer over the streets and a way for them to safely get there.
As to the fifth idea, we have a brand new park and the Supervisors have just approved a design architect. How about having the County as part of its park development construct bicycle and pedestrian capable sidewalks between St. Andrews and the Park, and putting something out there for the skateboarders and bicyclers?
By Al Pettigrew
So what should we do? We can change our driving and the environment. Some residents propose a stop sign to slow traffic. This seems to be low cost, but it would annoy residents approaching the sign, and eventually be ignored. For proof, think of the worthless stop sign at the intersection of Inverness and Tantallon. Who stops there? Expert opinion indicates that stop signs without an obvious value become ineffective. So what else? Here?’s my thoughts to start the discussion. First, parents must supervise their kids who have not learned about street safety and they need to keep their yards friendly so drivers?’ periphery will not be obstructed by bushes, bulky mailboxes, parked cars, and large signs. Second, kids need to make street safety a habit and not play on St. Andrews Dr. or Tantallon. Third, residents should get to know the children along St. Andrews Dr. who play in the street so we will keep their safety better in mind. Fourth, we need to add five minutes to our estimated driving times to get through the neighborhood to eliminate the urge to speed. Some of us might also consider driving along Tantallon and St. Andrews in first gear until we are confident our cars have been trained to drive slower. Fifth, we can find a place the kids will prefer over the streets and a way for them to safely get there.
As to the fifth idea, we have a brand new park and the Supervisors have just approved a design architect. How about having the County as part of its park development construct bicycle and pedestrian capable sidewalks between St. Andrews and the Park, and putting something out there for the skateboarders and bicyclers?
By Al Pettigrew
