Increase in people speeding on residential streets? (Seattle, Bellevue: appointed, condos)

[BATCAT]

I was wondering- in the last few years, have you, in your neighborhood, witnessed an increase in folks driving at reckless speeds down residential streets? What is your neighborhood, either way?

I sure have, and have just figured it was a regrettable side-effect of Seattle's recent growth. I was curious if others have noticed it too...

[pete98146]

Originally Posted by BATCAT

I was wondering- in the last few years, have you, in your neighborhood, witnessed an increase in folks driving at reckless speeds down residential streets? What is your neighborhood, either way?

I sure have, and have just figured it was a regrettable side-effect of Seattle's recent growth. I was curious if others have noticed it too...

I've noticed folks driving at reckless speeds on the freeways as well. It's always that idiot who zips by at 85 miles and hour and then slams their brakes on just as the traffic slows in a congested area.

[HuskyDawg]

Yes. And have seen lots of out of state plates who don't know where they're going and then give the finger when they're in the wrong lane or at an intersection where they don't know who yields. Maybe slow down and not drive like an A-hole until you at least know the area.

[sean98125]

Originally Posted by BATCAT

I was wondering- in the last few years, have you, in your neighborhood, witnessed an increase in folks driving at reckless speeds down residential streets? What is your neighborhood, either way?

I sure have, and have just figured it was a regrettable side-effect of Seattle's recent growth. I was curious if others have noticed it too...

I've seen it quite a bit off of NE 125th Street since the road diet. Lots of traffic shifts off to the side streets to avoid having to wait two or three light cycles during afternoon rush hour at NE 125th & 15th Ave NE.

[Blondebaerde]

You'll get a lot of opinions, with tons of subjectivity.

So here's my opinion, and my subjectivity is "suburbia streets of NorKirk neighborhood, Kirkland WA".

No, I haven't seen any increase. My street is double-lined and a reasonable arterial side-street for parents to get their kids to either the Jr. High (north) or elementary (south). Also for those living top of the hill (Crestwood Park) it's a logical ingress/egress route, those being deliberately rather limited in the area due to both design and the former train tracks / current Cross Kirkland Corridor that has very few road crossings in the area (only two, that I know of).

There are no speed bumps on my street, and don't recall thinking there should be any. Even though sometimes people go belting up the hill faster than they should, it being 1) a 25mph zone and 2) in school season, there are kids that walk up and down the street. Mostly middle-schoolers who are smart enough to keep out of the street...and there are big sidewalks...but in the morning it's little kids and parents, too. Deadly serious, in terms of safety.

I'm the guy who loves Kirkland's finest setting up obvious yet clever speed "traps" for miscreants around my general area. They're smart enough to understand public pressure to head off traffic trouble before it starts. I don't know if they write "a lot" of tickets, but I've seen a few pulled over here and there.

All I ask, and practice myself, is to just *slow it down, man* when there are "School" signs or obviously close to the middle and elementary schools. Do this year round, as a best-practice. There are a few times I've been tempted to run down some a**hat who belts up my street at 35 or 40mph, but both my temptation and incidents are rare. Vigilantism solves nothing, anyway. If I saw the same car doing the same thing every day for weeks, I'd talk to the cops about it. Doesn't happen, though. Yet, anyway.

Since there isn't tons of room to grow anything in NorKirk, volumes probably aren't up, going back to the original question. A few new houses here and there, a lot of major renovations, but that's it.

Central (downtown) has new condos going up, they're close to opening (guessing Spring 2016), that will probably increase minor street traffic volumes a bit.

[Plenus]

Yes....in the past ten to twenty years in general I have seen a marked increase in speeding in residential areas, near schools, playgrounds, and shopping centers. I would guess it is due to the fact that our society has become so self-absorbed and also having faces glued to a GIZMO half the time.
Other than more police (that isn't going to happen...too expensive), I don't see it getting any better. The younger crowd seems especially liable to behave this way. Add to it the typical female that is freaked out because she can't budget her time properly...and she fly's through the neighborhood or even worse...store parking lot....like a wild devil. Guys do it too...just not as common in my experience. Although in my neighborhood I have this low-brow troglodyte that likes to hop on his "toys" (ATV's, and go-cart) zipping around the community as though the law doesn't apply to him. And why wouldn't he think this? The police are too busy dealing with more serious crimes...until a kid gets hit.

As a side note...when I motion my hands to slow down to the suspecting vehicles...I just get flipped off.

Gotta love modern American culture...such charmers.

[Mr. Opinionated]

I too, was a road idiot during the adolescent days. Fortunately, I grew tired of the tickets and even an impound. And I agree and am disappointed by the gross lack of driving skill here in the East Bay Area. Police don't seem as interested in enforcing traffic law as they apparently need to be in Los Angeles. But then, unpleasant as it can be, that is one way that we get the point of vehicle operation. In spite of claims made by manufacturers of sporty toys, fun is supposed to be only an enhancement to driving, not the objective.

Schools and neighborhood speed limits regarding the elderly, disabled and children are irrelevant as everyone in their too-fast-the-street rod is in a furious hurry to speed and tailgate their way to some non-urgent (fast food, first onto the freeway on/off ramp, gas station, etc.) destination. Lots of lane hopping, ignoring signs, illegal 'maneuvers' and general rudeness is the norm now. Even people who appear to be super mild and polite seem to morph into uber-impatient texting fiends once behind the wheel of their favorite machine.

[pete98146]

Or you get the complete opposite. I drove from Seattle over to Bellevue last night for the MNF games. Was enjoying the surprisingly light traffic on eastbound 405 when I had to slam on my brakes. I looked up and some guy 3 cars up was driving 45 mph on the freeway. Hopped into the middle lane and passed him and instantly understood why he was driving 45 mph. Guess it's difficult to steer your car with your knees while your left hand is holding a lighter and your right hand is holding a 3 foot bong. LOL! Quite the sight...

[Charles22]

It's always Californians.

[homesinseattle]

People are moving here from the east coast and all over the world and bringing their driving habits with them. Whatever happened to good old Seattle passive kindness?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XdohA-4tQ0