Flossmoor resident Jack Edelbrock has always had a problem with how often he sees vehicles speeding down Sterling Avenue, or, as he calls it, “the H-F expressway.” But it wasn’t until a recent mishap that he decided to voice his opinion during the July 16 meeting.
“It came to roost yesterday as I backed out of my driveway and another car clipped me,” said Edelbrock, who lives on Sterling.
Sterling Avenue’s posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour. Eledbrock says he’s spent considerable time watching vehicles frequently speed past his house, including a semi-truck going in excess of 40 miles per hour.
“I spoke to an officer and he said he’s clocked someone going 52 miles per hour (on Sterling),” Elelbrock said. “We should either vigorously enforce that (25 miles per hour) speed limit or put in a speed bump. I would even entertain paying for part of it.”
Speed bumps, according to Mayor Paul Braun, are historically not a great option. Trustee Philip Minga explained two flaws associated with speed bumps: they make it difficult for emergency vehicles to travel down streets; people tend to overcompensate for having to slow down by speeding up once they get past the bump.
“The answer is enforcement,” Braun said.
The mayor directed Flossmoor Deputy Police Chief, Mike Pulec, who was present at the meeting, to devote more attention to enforcing the speed limit on Sterling.
“Absolutely,” was Pulec's response.
Too bad the speeders do not take into consideration that they are in a neighborhood and not an expressway...definately favor stronger enforcement which will keep everyone safer. Good luck in your efforts !
I'm all for harder crack-down. Please urge the Homewood police to join in the effort.
A Homewood officer was out on Heather trying to help neighbors corral a loose dog, and people didn't even slow down when they saw people in the street and the cop car! The officer had to scream at people to slow down to avoid hitting the dog and the officer herself.