Cash cow at 60 mph

The city of Asheville could use funds. In my neighborhood, we have a speeding issue. I live on Brevard Road between Haywood Road and the [Interstate] 240/26 interchange. The speed limit between those two points is 30 mph. Regularly, drivers will have at times speeds exceeding 60 mph. Maybe the name should be changed to Brevard Raceway.

It seems to me that some regular traffic enforcement would yield the city many dollars in collected fines and also make Brevard Road just a little bit safer. Many times, I hear screeching brakes as people speed to the light at Haywood Road. Since I have lived here, I have seen two major accidents requiring the replacement of telephone poles. When folks turn off Haywood to head toward the highway, many times they just open it up. The noise of the engines is unbearable at times.

The speed limit on Haywood Road is 20 mph in downtown West Asheville. Why the difference between the two roads? I understand that Brevard Road (route 191) is a state road, yet the city maintains it. I understand the need for emergency vehicles to use this road to speed to their destinations. They have sirens to warn bystanders and other drivers.

Beyond that, there is no excuse for the complete lack of traffic enforcement here. Over the years I have lived here, several calls to the police have yielded zero results. Perhaps this letter will. If so, a safer, quieter, happier neighborhood will become at ease. Then the city may receive some much-needed cash.

— Steven Howard
Asheville

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6 thoughts on “Cash cow at 60 mph

  1. Sham69

    How ironic that the day this letter gets published, my cat of 15 years gets killed in front of my house.

  2. Cheshire

    There are multiple roads with low speed limits that are ignored. My personal favorite is Lyman St. It’s a two-lane road with a double yellow line the entire stretch and bicycle lanes on the outside on both sides. The speed limit is posted at 30 mph. In my car, I’ve had people pass me going over the double yellow when I’m going 35 mph…5 over the limit. If I’m on my scooter (a plated 125cc that can go in excess of 60 mph) I’m risking my life going anything slower than 40-45 mph. When I say that, I mean tailgating, passing me on the left if I’m riding in the center of the lane, passing me on the RIGHT if I’m riding in the left third of the lane, starting to pass me on the left and swerving into me while yelling “that’ll teach ya”, etc.

    This road is the shortest, most direct route to get to the supply distributor for my business: I’ve complained to the police but they tell me there’s nothing they can do.
    Umm…how about having a police car down there at least once in a blue moon and…I don’t know…pulling people for driving like this?

    I’ve taken to carrying mace and have mounted a camera to my scooter for gathering plate numbers and video evidence.

  3. Piffy!

    It’s all the fault of the Democrats, who hate America, and are all racists.

  4. Piffy!

    Do the cop cars still fly down Montford at 3 times the speed limit, with no lights or sirens?

  5. Clocky

    I live in the neighborhood near Brevard Road and Haywood Road also. I witness the same speeding.

    In addition, I have been passed at least twice while driving the speed limit on Brevard Road, on a section which is a two-lane road with a double yellow line. Passed! Most of the properties facing this stretch of road are homes. One notable exception is a school.

    In the six years or so that I’ve lived in this neighborhood, I have not once seen a car pulled over for speeding. Why not?

  6. Sham69

    @ Victor- My cat was killed by racist democrats?

    @ Cheshire- my letter has done little. On Halloween I called W. Asheville station to ask if a patrol car could hang for a bit on Brevard. They were too busy w/ MOOG Fest I was told. They said the ‘Community Outreach Officer’ would call me in a day or two to discuss my concerns. No call back yet, since Sunday.

    I called the state DOT re stop signs, speed limit changes, and maybe flashing yellow lights for the corner. No call back at all. I’m certain even the death of a child won’t resolve this…unless someone with a bigger mouth than me steps in.

    All speeders must clearly support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and off shore drilling. The must be too busy watching re-runs of Seinfeld to get up on time so they don’t have to rush wherever they have to go. They must have money to burn in this economy and must not really give a shit about anything but themselves.

    In the end, this letter I started out as merely trying to start something. Then my cat Tom was killed the day it came out in print. Tom’s death I take responsibility for. Cats should stay inside all breeders say. My cat refused to stay inside. I’m glad his life was filled with cat like things, like hunting, killing and eating, rolling in the catnip we grow, and joining us at night for a back yard fire. I’m glad he didn’t have cancer.

    @ Clocky – I have been told that it’s a state road and that the city maintains it. My guess is to have the designation of state road changed. If we pay taxes for things like road repair and police protection ( is that a socialistic concept? ), why is there no coverage over these years you and I speak of? I too have been passed right in front of Francine Delany. I guess it’s really hard to go 30 MPH.

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