Speed Machine Put on Branford’s ‘Worst Road’ To Slow Down Drivers

BRANFORD, CT - The speed limit on the heavily traveled Featherbed Lane in Branford is 25 miles per hour but anyone who drives on the road knows that very few, if any, take the speed limit seriously.

Despite repeated efforts, including constant police radar presence on the road which is located close to the nearby Walsh Middle School, cars driving sometimes close to twice the speed limit is a regular occurrence on the road.

The situation is so bad that during a discussion about speeding on town roads at a Board of Police Commission meeting several months ago, Police Chairwoman Jill Marcus declared Featherbed Lane "the worst" road for speeding in the entire town.

Police are trying a new tactic to slow down drivers on the road.

On Thursday a Branford police officer installed a “digital speed reading” machine on Featherbed.

The machine seemed to be having an impact as many drivers slowed down, even below the 25 mph speed limit, as they approached the sign, Thursday afternoon.

Some slowed down when they saw the sign, but still topped 25 mph.

The speeding on Featherbed is so bad that some who live on the road have even taken traffic control into their own hands to try and slow the drivers down.

One neighbor has posted a sign that sign reads: "GO SLOW 25 MPH U NEVER KNOW."

Another sign has a similar message but also warns motorists that there are also a lot of deer that regularly pass the busy street on there way to nearby wooded areas.