Ways to Improve Road Safety in Your Neighborhood

Road safety is important everywhere, but it is especially important where your kids play. The following are a few things you can do to make your neighborhood a bit safer for your family and everyone else.

Reflective Signs

One thing you can do is have reflective signs installed. You’ll probably need to get permission to install these and any other solutions mentioned here. Depending on what you want to do, you might have to start a petition, but your neighbors will likely agree because they want their families safe, too.

Reflective signs are more visible to drivers since they reflect light and can be seen at night. You’ll want various signs in your neighborhood, such as signs telling drivers to reduce their speed, speed limits signs, and stop signs just to name a few.

Speed Bumps

Speed bumps are great for neighborhoods that want to ensure people drive slowly through their area. You’ll definitely need to get permission to install one of these in your neighborhood. Most of the time, these are installed on straight roads where drivers tend to speed.

Drivers usually drive slower if the road is full of curves; while straight roads make it easier for drivers to speed. Speed bumps can be a bit of an inconvenience, so you are going to have to talk to your neighbors about it. Depending on where you live, you’ll have to get permission to do this, or you’ll have to get the township to install it for you.

Flashing Signs

If you already have reflective lights but notice that folks miss the signs anyway, then consider upgrading them to flashing lights. These signs come with small flashlights that should get a driver’s attention a little easier. For a stop sign, the light flashes red, and for yellow signs, the light flashes yellow.

Be sure to pay attention to each sign and placement. Drive around to find out if there are trees or something else that is making it difficult for drivers to see them. The flashing signs should keep your neighborhood road safer, but obstructions can still present danger, so you’ll want to address those.

Nighttime Crosswalks

The next thing you want to consider is nighttime crosswalk lighting. These are powerful lights that light up a crosswalk at night. If you know your neighborhood is a little active at night, then you’ll want to consider these types of lights. If you know kids stay out at night, you’ll want lit crosswalks.

If college students return home after hours or if you’ve got folks who like to run at night, you’ll want these illuminating lights. These can come on automatically when a pedestrian approaches a crosswalk, and you don’t have to worry about this impairing a driver’s vision as they get near it. You can mention that to neighbors so that they don’t worry about how this might affect their driving.

Pothole Filling

You drive around your neighborhood road and know if any potholes need filling. Potholes and major road imperfections should be fixed as soon as possible. This is something your township should address on their own, but if they haven’t done so, you’ll have to take action.

It may seem like these road imperfections are just a nuisance to drivers, but they can be dangerous. If a driver pays attention to them too much, they might not be paying attention to pedestrians. If a car’s tires are old or not properly inflated, then a road imperfection could lead to a blowout. A driver could lose control after a blowout and put everyone in danger. Have these imperfections taken care of, and do it with the help of your neighbors.

These are a few ideas to help you make your neighborhood road a bit safer. Talk to your neighbors to see if they have other ideas you might not have considered.