Cars clocked at three times the posted speed limit is causing concerns in a popular beach town But the city's proposed solution is getting a bumpy reception.
You can stand on 175th Avenue East in Redington Shores and see plenty of drivers going the posted speed limit. But there are plenty of others who don't.
"It's like a raceway sometimes. People are flying down the road," said Craig Ridgley, who has lived along the road for nine years.
A recent traffic study of 20,000 drivers showed most here obey the speed. But officials clocked about 15 percent of cars going anywhere from 45 to over 60 miles an hour.
Parents lobbied for safe driving signs after a car hit a child on 175th. The city also changed the speed limit here from 30 miles an hour down to 20, but many neighbors here say it's done little to help the chronic speeding on their street.
The city's new solution: speed tables.
"Totally against it. I feel like it's not really going to deter people from speeding. I feel like all it's going to do is cause problems to your car," said Sharon Townsley, who also lives on 175th.
Flyers have even been stuffed in some mailboxes urging the commission to vote "no". The city says speed tables are next best option because lower speed limits and increased patrols have not worked.
"For a few extra seconds it's going to take to go 175th Avenue, if it'll save a life, that's all I care about," said Redington Shores vice mayor Tom Kapper.
And there's reason to think it'll work. Just a few blocks away in neighboring North Redington Beach, the city re-paved a similar road and added speed tables. It seems to be working.
"It's just something you have to slow down for..a little bit," said Ridgley.
The city commission is set to decide if tables are right for 175th Ave. at Wednesday night's meeting.
