Forest Drive speed cameras

Update following my last post.

I have read comments regarding the new cameras and taken them into consideration, and took time to really see what it’s like now driving through this area. And I guess to clarify a bit, I agree with the new speed limit on Coal Creek however what I do not agree with is the speeding cameras on forest drive.

The four new cameras were definitely a wasted resource due to poor placement. They placed them in the two areas that are always backed up with traffic and held up by flashing crosswalk. They should’ve put them by the hill in front of Amherst.

The first day I saw the cameras I immediately started taking a different route to get to and from home and after two days I posted here to see what other people thought about the cameras. Then I decided to use this road as much as I could to see how the average forest drive commute was and my suspicions were correct.

Almost half the time I leave and come back, the person in front of me will slam on the brakes when they see the posted sign or camera box and start driving 25 in the 30. It’s really really annoying to have to trail behind these guys knowing that you’re coming up on a congested intersection (Coal Creek) next.

For some context, the speed limit is currently 30 and I personally always go 35-36 on this road and it’s perfectly fine because it’s a straight road for the most part with flashing light cross walks. For those of you saying, “Just don’t speed” “Go the speed limit” “If you don’t speed, then you shouldn’t have to worry about this” “the roads are dangerous” you’re definitely one of the people going under the speed limit causing congestion.

JUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU

What makes me personally mad about the cameras is that because I go an average of 35, it cuts close to the camera trigger speed which from what I’ve read is 38. So now I have to deal with brake checking tortoises and a fine of $120 if I get too close to that trigger speed.

Some of us do not have the luxury of pissing away time behind “you guys” and 35 is a perfectly reasonable speed for this street. You could say going 5 or 6 above the speed limit won’t get you where you need to be any faster but yes, it does. Time is valuable and if you can’t pay attention to the road or cars near you, and can’t speed up to the posted speed limit sign, then either practice better driving or get off the roads.

I personally don’t go around racing through the streets but for those that do, I agree that it is dangerous and those people should be jailed but for the most part, I’ve never seen anyone go above 40 on forest drive. The least the city could do is increase the trigger speed to 40 instead of 38 to ease the minds of those who drive at a reasonable speed and don’t have the money to pay a ridiculous amount for a speeding fine.