Drivers in this Northern state will have to reexamine their driving habits, as a speed limit reduction will be implemented. A few key roadways will undergo speed limit reductions after local leaders voted on the matter earlier this year.
Why yet another state is lowering the speed limit on its roads
September 26 will see new signage being added to the roads of this state. The running theme in states that have adopted this same approach is to lower the risk of collision and increase road safety. Motorists are not the only group of road users who have been considered in this move, as cyclists and pedestrians have also been factored into this decision, with the overarching idea being to raise conditions in the communities concerned.
Traffic engineers have been scrutinizing collision data and weighing this against community engagement and road usage. Their findings alluded to the current speed limits not being aligned with current road use and traffic conditions, which called into question the safety of the roads in this region. This reduction has been unanimously voted in favor of by city officials.
California toughens up on speed, with another city looking to slow things down
Folsom, in Sacramento County, California, will have its speed limits slashed come the end of September. Folsom is a city or township within Sacramento County with a growing population, which means a lot more people are using the roads in this city. Officials stated that this move is very much part of a statewide initiative to lower speed limits and increase safety, a move made possible under Assembly Bill 43.
Folsom Boulevard, Blue Ravine Road, and East Bidwell Street will be among several major roadways that will have speed limits reduced. The drop will see speeds decreased from 40 mph to 35 mph, while some current 30 mph zones will decrease to 25 mph. Residential areas will also be affected due to the foot traffic these areas incur, with the new signage already being installed all over the city.
Education and enforcement are the principles being adhered to with this move
City leaders have taken to educating the community about the lowering of speed limits and not just merely enforcing the changes. The relevant data has been made easily accessible to the community, along with officials and experts on hand to discuss these amendments.
As is the case in many other states that have taken to lowering speed limits, a period of grace will be observed in which drivers will be cautioned and allowed the time to adjust before ticketing commences for those who violate the new speed regulations.
The new speed limits have the city of Folsom divided
Changes of this nature are very often met with mixed reactions. Some residents are in favor of the reduced speed limits and the council’s efforts to place safety in the foreground of road usage, while others are skeptical. Those in favor see this move as being one that makes sense, an implementation that will reduce accidents and casualties on the roads.
Others are concerned about traffic congestion and the time taken to commute being lengthened, but officials are being more mindful of safety and less so of inconvenience. A decade has elapsed since the last time speed limits were reviewed. Folsom Ordinance No. 1356 specifies the exact number of streets this will impact and which roads will have speeds readjusted.
The exercise will be closely watched by officials and law enforcement, and should the results be encouraging, then more roads might have their speed limits adjusted in the future, and naturally, any violations of the new limits will be subject to fines after the grace period has elapsed.