Open Letter: Safe Driving Enforced in Forest Hills

The draw of our community has always been its many amenities appealing to families. The pool, our parks, the recreation programs, and the convenience to schools, public transportation, and employment are all things that attract people to .

Our residents also appreciate the work of our police force and specifically their presence and visibility controlling traffic and making the streets safe for school children on their way to the bus stop, people out for a walk, and children and adults riding their bikes in their neighborhoods. 

Since becoming chief, Chuck Williams has worked with members of council and community members to identify streets which have a history of safety issues and implement cost-effective solutions. You may have noticed the yellow street signs with a parent and child walking.   

These have been placed at highly active bus stops and were mutually purchased by Forest Hills and the to increase awareness of bus stop activity and slow traffic. Remember to slow down when you see these signs, be aware that children are near, stop when the flashing lights are on, and respect all crossing guards.  The guards are an important part of the overall safety of our children and are to be given the same respect as any of our police officers. If you choose to drive your children to school, please leave a few minutes early and drive safely. Being a few minutes late is better than risking an accident.  

The recent paving of Braddock Road between Ardmore Boulevard and Brinton Road features a wider shoulder to accommodate walkers.  While this road is maintained by the county and a sidewalk was deemed not to be within the budget, our engineer and public works foreman worked with the county for an affordable solution. Since placing sidewalks on every street is neither affordable nor feasible in our community, we have added several stop signs and reduced speed on several streets throughout the borough. 

Our police will also be enforcing the speed on streets that carry a higher volume of traffic or are among those that have received a high number of complaints. These streets include: Ardmore, Braddock, Sherwood, Fairfax, Filmore, Greensburg Pike, and Cascade. Our police have adopted a zero tolerance policy on all of these streets. Residents are asked to respect the exact speed limit, be patient, watch for children and pedestrians and inform the police of any vehicles which continually disregard our traffic safety laws.   

Other enforcement mechanisms are speed humps, lines for measuring vehicle speed, the large speed trailer, and speed detectors displayed in various areas. Keep in mind that pedestrians always have the right of way. Take a few seconds to slow down for cyclists and give them at least six feet when you pass them. It is also important not to pass a cyclist and then turn right in front of them. New groups, such as Share the Road East, have been formed to educate drivers on the importance of being aware of cyclists as well as encouraging cyclists to obey the rules of the road. Remember to slow down even below the posted speed when turning corners or coming to the top of the hill. Not all streets have sidewalks and children and walkers can be difficult to see in these areas. This is a fact of living in the eastern suburbs.  

While it is not economically feasible to modify all of our streets for maximum pedestrian safety, install sidewalks everywhere, and continuously patrol for traffic safety, it is possible for all of us to be very aware of our driving habits. 

Please slow down, be aware of pedestrians, children, and bikes and help our police keep us safe.

Steve Karas

Forest Hills Council