Traffic issues in the Cape need action now
To the editor:
Why do people speed in Cape Coral? The answer is that aggressive drivers simply feel more entitled, that the road is theirs alone to use and that they are in control of time and physical obstacles. Everyone else is going too slowly or in their way and in their mind they control the entire traffic flow but their focus is reduced to their own personal delusion.
You have seen it with aggressive driving, finger gestures, disregarding stop signs, bumper riding, and inattentive driving, with no use of turn signals and communication to other drivers their intent. They cut off other drivers as they know what’s best for all on the road. They speed to make up supposed lost time at lights especially when inattentive drivers ahead of them don’t respond to the light change. Instead of slowing down at a yellow light and stopping at the red, aggressive drivers think they own the intersection and barrel through often having to stop at the next light anyway.
Simple time-distance-speed calculations show that all of the high speed maneuvering really does not create any substantial gain in time to get to their destination. Ever notice that the aggressive driver usually winds up at the same traffic light as you which should be an indicator that this type of driving is not only dangerous but not productive. Voorhees law of traffic basically states that the more traffic lights encountered between point A and B only raises the probability that the legal driver and the aggressive driver will wind up at the same stop light almost every time. It is the traffic light and timing that is the great equalizer.
Here are some solutions. Speed limit signage that is slower than what is currently posted is the start and especially “No Through Traffic” signs in residential neighborhoods but this takes enforcement. Speeds limits must be reduced on residential and major arterials in to create reaction time which helps other drivers figure out the intentions of those around them. I would like to congratulate and thank the many drivers that I have observed driving 40 on the 45 mph roads of Chiquita, Skyline, and Santa Barbara for your intelligence in figuring out that the speeds on these roads are marked too fast and are unsafe at the posted LIMIT. We don’t have to drive unsafely because the city is waiting for a “study.”
Physical barriers like speed bumps slow vehicles down but are hard on cars suspension systems, can cause storm water drainage issues, and slow down emergency responders. The aggressive driver resents an obstacle like this and speeds between bumps to make up time. They are not traffic calming to the already aggressive driver. Traffic lights and timing is a constant maintenance issue and as much as engineers try to make adjustments, it is a costly way to try and find the sweet spot of moving traffic efficiently.
Many cities are discovering the answer is roundabouts. There is simply a maximum speed that a roundabout can be navigated safely so it controls speeding. It forces drivers to share the road as each takes their turn entering and leaving a roundabout. Roundabouts are an aggressive driver training device. Eliminated is the waiting at a light controlled by a disassociated controller which is a time waster and reduces the level of frustration with lost time waiting. There is no red light running or blocked intersections. They reduce electronic distraction because there is no wait time at a red light to use a device. Roundabouts keep traffic moving and are traffic calming. Roundabouts create efficiency; they raise a level of attentiveness, and require courtesy to other drivers. Roundabouts work best when each controlled intersection has one. There is no time for rapid acceleration between the roundabouts so it controls overall speed. They eliminate drag racing. Roundabouts also send a message of orderliness and courtesy to visitors and residents making our city more attractive.
City planners and council members have resisted roundabouts because they have a learning curve. It is precisely this learning curve that causes a driver to slow, be more attentive and respectful in their driving. Current Cape plans for roundabouts are a toe in the water and placement appears to be for many locations that would not create the most benefit. It appears the city is afraid of complaints and wants to gauge residents’ reactions before adding them to where they are most needed. We need roundabouts on the main arterials and eliminate as many traffic lights as possible. The roundabout program and slower speed signs need to start now and be completed within a couple of years.
J. Caplin
Cape Coral