To the Editor:
As a recent college grad, I have spent most of my life living in Shamong Township, on quiet, peaceful McKendimen Road. I returned home to find a change to my formerly serene country road. It has become a quasi-drag strip for distracted, speeding drivers.
Recently, in the twilight hours, I took my golden retriever for a stroll. As a car barreled towards me at a 50–60 mph, I leapt to the curb pulling my dog to safety. I waved my flashlight and a young driver screeched to a halt. The teenager behind the wheel asked me why I was shining my light at him.
I responded, “Why are you speeding through my neighborhood? Do you live here? Are you aware of the 25 mph speed limit?”
He explained that he was “cutting through” to avoid signals at Tuckerton Road and Route 206. So great, I found out that McKendimen Road is now the apparent local Indie 500 of shortcuts.
The 25- 35 mph posted speed limits are for good reason. Adult and teen pedestrians, children, pets and older folk use McKendimen Road at all times of day. Furthermore, beautiful woods line our road, and this means there are plentiful deer making crossings at all times of day and night.
We residents and frequent McKendimen drivers know how and where to constantly scan for deer and to especially stick to the speed limits at their typical crossing spots. Distracted, negligent motorists looking for a high-speed short -cut don’t have a clue.
Shamong Township has no police department and we the taxpayers would like to keep it that way. We abhor having to ask them to waste precious resources patrolling one road. We don’t want another expensive, useless speed hump.
Township officials and the troopers have bent over backwards trying to mitigate speeding on our road. They just can’t be in every distracted, negligent driver heads or on their tails.
A ticket can be paid off and a car can be repaired, but killing or maiming is forever. I don’t know what tragedy has to occur before the point is made: PLEASE SLOW DOWN and stop driving distracted on McKendimen Road.
William J. Bell, Jr.
