Town Will Not Reduce Royal Lane Speed Limit

The Traffic Safety Committee decided on Monday that action will not be taken on Royal Lane to reduce the speed limit, according to Police Chief William Hart.

Hart said that statistics gathered from traffic and speed counters (also known as a JAMAR system) placed on the street in March, June and early August did not indicate a significant problem on the road.

"The speeds suggested that an extremely low statistical percentage drove on that road in excess of 46 miles per hour," he said.

According to numbers provided in the town minutes, 99.6 percent of drivers were traveling under 45 miles per hour in the June reading, 99.7 in the July reading and 99.6 in the August reading.

In the three counts taken total, close to 18,000 vehicles crossed over the counter.

Hart said that a survey was also sent to residents on Royal Lane and surrounding roads, which had a response rate of 28 percent. Of those who responded, he said that over 60 percent didn't feel there was a speed problem other than the normal situation that would occur in any neighborhood.

Wanting to get eyes on the road to get what Hart called some "anecdotal" observations, LPD also placed what is called Special Attentions, or SA.

"They get a radar unit or stand outside the car and slow people down," he said. "In a neighborhood you want to let people know 'hey you're going significantly faster than you want to be in this neighborhood.'"

Hart said that officers reported anecdotally that they did not perceive that the traffic violations were an "egregious problem in the neighorhood."

Only a few summons were issued for speed problems on the road.

Several residents commented at the committee meeting with varying opinions, some indicating that the problem occurs at specific times such as between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Others did not think that there is a problem on the road.

Hart said that some variation of the Royal Lane response is given when complaints arise on other roads in town, citing High Range Road speed problems as an example.

He said that speed counters or SA can also come from the observation of a pattern of accidents, or when the deaprtment is trying to do research for either grant writing or public works, where the traffic count is needed on a particular road.

Based on the conversation at the meeting and information gathered, Hart said that LPD will continue to pay attention to Royal Lane from time to time. He said that speed bumps or signs will also not be placed.