For Freddie Bonds, simply backing out of the drive way can be a dangerous move.
He’s lived on Avenue E in east McComb for 30 years and said speeding is worse than it’s ever been.
“Too much speeding on this street,” he said. “I’m surprised somebody hasn’t gotten killed on this street.”
Bonds said most people who live in the neighborhood back out of their driveways.
“If a car comes over that hill running too fast, what’s going to happen?” he said. “Many times I have to pull back up.”
Bonds said speed bumps or a stop sign would be the best solution.
“Speed bumps would be better than a stop sign,” he said. “Stop signs may help and it may not, but I think we need to do something. I think everybody here on this street agrees with that.”
City officials do too.
They’re considering installing devices throughout the city to encourage speeders to slow down, although the devices, which give the driver’s speed and a flashing light for people going way over the limit, won’t be capable of issuing tickets.
City Administrator David Myers discussed the possible purchase of three speed devices for $3,500 each at Tuesday’s work session. He said they can be moved around to various locations.
One of the devices will be in the area of Avenue E and North Live Oak streets, where Selectman Devante Johnson raised concerns about vehicles driving too fast.
“They will see their speed,” Myers said. “If they are going over 30 miles an hour, they’ll see what their speed is. The device will illuminate and let them know they are going faster than the posted speed limit in that particular area. There’s going to be some bells and whistles. There will be a flash.”
If an officer is in the area and sees the flashing sign, then the driver is likely to be stopped for speeding, Myers said.
Officials recently talked about purchasing portable game cameras to catch individuals dumping illegally, and the consensus was it was illegal to use those cameras to catch traffic violations.
Myers said the speed devices are different.
“The cameras that they’re talking about putting in those illegal dumping areas are not for traffic purposes,” he said. “It’s to catch criminal activity and those cameras will be placed on city property, city right-of-way. Those cameras will obviously be catching illegal dumping criminal activity in those areas. These devices are allowed to be put on the roadway because they are traffic devices.”
When Johnson raised the issue of vehicles speeding on Avenue E, Myers said there was some talk of installing a four-way stop, but he believed the speed devices would be more effective.
“The plan is to put them throughout the city and be able to move those where we have problems in terms of speeding in the neighborhoods,” Myers said. “The plan is to deploy three of those and to be able to move those around to different places of the city. They are different from the ones that have been there on Wall Street. I think these will surely get people’s attention.”
Johnson said people come flying down the hill on the corner of Avenue E and North Live Oak and he believes speed devices could help.
“I like that idea,” he said.
He also suggested the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection.
“The traffic signal for Avenue E and North Live Oak, I’m going to request that we have one there permanently,” he said. “It’s a constant problem there.”
Johnson estimated some vehicles have gone through the area at more than 50 miles an hour. He still thinks a four-way stop is a good idea, but he is willing to try the speed device.
“I’m OK with the speed device first, but ultimately, it’s what the residents think,” he said. “They’re very concerned.”
Bonds, the Avenue E resident, said there was a four-way stop and speed bumps in the area years ago.
Johnson believes the speed device is just a start.
“We need something that’s going to break the speed,” he said. “Putting it out there is fine as a caution, but we need a safety precaution when they do come speeding.”
