Speed a Concern on Piney Orchard Parkway

Sunday morning's fatal crash on Piney Orchard Parkway came as a shock to local residents, but served as a reminder of long-held concerns over speed on the road. 

Residents of Piney Orchard have consistently expressed concern about cars driving too fast down the road, often referring to it as "Piney Orchard Raceway."

Police said that excessive speed may have played a role in Sunday's crash, which killed three people and seriously injured another. The speed limit is 40 miles per hour, but lowers to 25 miles per hour as the road becomes Patuxent Road just south of Piney Orchard.

Members of the community have worked to address traffic concerns on the road. The Piney Orchard Community Association's safety commitee worked with county officials to re-draw lanes on the traffic circle to avoid collisions. And at various times, police have placed speed monitoring signs on Piney Orchard Parkway, both at the south end of the road and near the traffic circle. 

The monument at the traffic circle on Piney Orchard Parkway has been damaged three times due to errant drivers. 

The traffic and speed issue came up early last year when congestion on Route 3 led many motorists to use Patuxent Road and Piney Orchard Parkway as a shortcut to Odenton. Likewise, many drivers traveled south on the road to reach Route 3 in Crofton. 

"It’s such a wide open area [entering Piney Orchard] that people think it's 65 miles per hour until you hit the circle,” said Jeff Andrade, president of the Piney Orchard Community Association last January. “And I think we’re starting to see a lot more people than we’re normally accustomed to.”

Andrade and others also raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic from the proposed Two Rivers Elementary School.

Do you believe people drive to fast on Piney Orchard Parkway? If so, what can be done?