FRANKLIN, Ind. — Nathaniel Spears is leading the effort to get his neighbors to slow down in the Kingsbridge subdivision located off of U.S. 31 in Franklin.
“I got speeders going up and down this road, ” said Spears.
He has several surveillance cameras that record vehicles as they drive by this home.
“This is not people doing 5 to 10 miles an hour over the speed limit.”
Most of the problem occurs, no surprise, while people are going to and coming from work.
FOX59/CBS4 drove the road in question, Covington Boulevard. The legal speed limit is 25 miles per hour. The road is flat and long with no curves or obstacles. It can be inviting to someone with a lead foot.
If you live in this neighborhood, you know it’s home to many kids who ride bikes and skateboards — reason enough to slow down and avoid an unwanted situation.
FOX59/CBS4 reached out to the mayor’s office in the City of Franklin for answers. Planning Director Joanna Tennel responded on behalf of the city.
Tennell wrote, in part, “a stop sign at the location (Spears) wants is not appropriate.” She went on to write, “stop signs placed at intersections that they are not warranted are more likely to be disregarded and result in accidents. If a stop sign was to be considered along Covington Boulevard…… it would be more appropriate at the intersection with Jason Avenue (4-way intersection) than at the intersection Mr. Spears is requesting (T-intersection).”
The Franklin Police Department responded to initial complaints on March 7 by assigning officers to patrol the neighborhood. Within several weeks, one ticket was issued, one arrest was made for a driver’s license violation and five people were given warnings for speeding. Police said the highest recorded speed on Covington was 33 mph.
Police set up a monitoring device in Kingsbridge between April 24 and April 29. The speed of 348 vehicles was recorded during those specific days:
- The average speed of vehicles was 28.91 mph.
- 97.7 % of the vehicles recorded were under 35 mph
- The highest recorded speed was 38 mph.
- 58% of the vehicles were under the speed limit.
Despite those efforts, Spears said he still sees vehicles driving faster than 25 miles per hour. He continues to circulate a petition in hopes of raising awareness to create lasting change.
“My concern is that my kids or any of the kids from around here can’t walk out to the school bus safely without people driving around the school bus. How many times can it happen before someone gets hit?” Speaks asked.
Moving forward the Police department tells FOX59/CBS4 that it will be conducting random and unannounced.
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