JUST SLOW DOWN: DRIVE 25

JUST SLOW DOWN: DRIVE 25

Does anyone remember that slogan from the 1980’s-90’s “Just
Say No To Drugs?” It was meant to be a shorthand approach to getting teens even
from the most desperate socio-economic strata of America to avoid the drug
culture and future devastation by the criminal justice system. Not too surprisingly
it was not that simple.

It seems that most slogans, without effective societal
interventions and changes in personal attitudes, usually end up being quickly
forgotten. Slogans alone usually fall flat and rarely produce the desired
results. I would like to supply a new and hopefully more useful slogan and a
multi-level intervention program.

Let’s take speeders in residential neighborhoods in Wall or
any other middle class suburb in New Jersey. For whatever reasons, municipal
officials have unfortunately set far too many residential street speed limits
at 35 mph and some even higher!  As
interpreted by far too many drivers that is really viewed as 35mph + 10mph =
45mph allowed! On residential streets! Where children are present and playing!
Where kids are riding their bikes! Where runners are without the benefit of wider
safer streets!

And imagine yourself in your front yard or driveway relaxing
on a beautiful fall afternoon and some car goes zooming down your street at
40+mph! The first time you turn quickly trying to see who it is and confirm
your stereotypical speeder but too late. They’re gone! You look at your kids
your dog and promise “next time I’ll call the…” Forget it…just a random
speeder. But what if it happens every day, many times, day and night and every
season? Then what?

You find yourself yelling at cars, trucks and yes busses: “JUST
SLOW DOWN.” And then it escalates to “Slow down you #@$^*&.” And once in
awhile their brake lights go on and you wonder what will I do now? Call the
cops? Get a bat from the garage? How do we get back some control of our
residential streets? Lower the speed limits? Increase police enforcement? Change
driving etiquette? Reinforce with strong safety curriculums in schools? Say Yes
to all of them. And that combination of efforts is covered by a new mantra: “JUST
SLOW DOWN: DRIVE 25.”

 Is it always necessary to drive the maximum allowable
speed limit let alone 10 mph over in a residential area? Think about it every time
you read about a pedestrian or bike rider being hit and seriously injured or
worse case…Fatalities increase dramatically with increases in speed!

“JUST SLOW DOWN: DRIVE 25” requires the systematic and
effective intervention of municipal officials, police, school officials and our
neighbors all promoting greater civility on our streets, roads and highways.
Instead of yelling at cars let’s call city hall, the chief of police and the
superintendent of schools. It’s time to “JUST SLOW DOWN: DRIVE 25!”

Support lowering speed limits in residential areas. Demand effective enforcement on problem streets. Demand school curriculums from PK-12 to drive home the message for more civility when driving. And most importantly let’s talk safe non-distracted driving at home! Do you have a street where speeders scare the heck out of you,your kids and your pets? Take some actions! Stay tuned for details!