Traffic Report Shows Dexter Drivers Ignoring Posted Speed Limits in Village

A report released by the village of Dexter this week shows drivers continue to ignore posted speed limits in parts of the community.

The report uses data generated from the village's portable LED speed sign, and shows motorists on Ryan Drive in the Huron Farms subdivision regularly drive 5 miles or more above the posted 25 mile per hour limit.

The device was placed on Ryan Drive from Feb. 1 through Feb. 12.

Data shows that between Feb. 1 and Feb. 7 approximately 2,282 motorists were traveling up to 5 miles per hour over the posted speed limit compared to 1,513 traveling beneath or at the speed limit. During that same time period, 517 motorists were traveling between 31 to 35 miles per hour, and 56 were traveling between 36 and 40 miles per hour.

During the week of Feb. 6-12, 2,276 motorists were tagged traveling between 26-30 miles per hour, with 1,464 motorists traveling at the posted speed limit. Four-hundred motorists traveled at 31-35 miles per hour, and 54 motorists traveled between 36 and 40 miles per hour.

"The data shows that over both weeks 12 percent of the cars were driving in excess of 30 miles per hour,” president Shawn Keough said in his bi-monthly report to the village council.

The report shows that weekend traffic tends to be higher for speed violations.

In response to safety concerns from residents in Orchard River Hills and other village subdivisions, officials have asked the Washtenaw County Sheriff to increase traffic patrols to help alleviate speeding around areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.

"In regard to traffic in subdivisions, I would like to see the sheriff's department monitor traffic during morning rush hour through Westridge and Eastridge Streets. I have a sneaking suspicion people are cutting through there to avoid the signal at Dexter-Pinckney and Island Lake roads, despite the 'No Thru Traffic' sign," Amos Walker wrote in response to a previous article on Dexter Patch.

Annette Coy, a resident on Huron Street, said she would like to see more traffic calming devices in other parts of the village as well.

"Traffic comes off of Mast Road at 50 miles per hour and does not slow down coming into the village. I would love a speed bump on my street," she said.

Village officials will conduct a similar traffic in other parts of the community in the coming months. The portable sign is currently collecting data from vehicles traveling on Fifth Street.