Briana Pace | Southern Indiana Business Report
Huntingburg’s streets will soon be safer, thanks to one radar speed sign.
The City of Huntingburg received nearly $18,000 in grant money from AARP’s Community Challenge program, allowing the city to purchase a portable radar speed sign, continuing the city’s five-year Safe Streets for All initiative.
“Our idea right now is to move that [sign] continually around the city, gathering data on speed and other compliance issues,” City of Huntingburg Mayor Neil Elkins said.
The sign will warn people if they are speeding, as well as collect data on speeds. Seven to eight reports a year will be produced based on the data.
“Where we lower speed limits, how well are people following those speed limits? We needed a baseline data, and that’s what this sign will do,” Elkins said. “We’ll be able to track where we are now; we can track where we are a year from now and see if the other measures that we have in place are really improving pedestrian safety.”
Surveys will also be sent to the public to determine if they think new safety measures, like the sign, are helping or not.
In addition to tracking speeds, the new sign can be used to improve safety at special events, such as parades or festivals. Words and messages can be added to the sign, which could be used to encourage people to slow down or give people directions.
The main goal in adding the sign to the community is to reduce the number of accidents between mobility devices, such as motorized scooters and bikes, and vehicles. According to Elkins, Huntingburg does not have many serious accidents in the city, just a lot of fender benders.
In the past, the city has utilized social media campaigns to educate community members on road saftey. Last year, they ran an ad campaign, which was successful in teaching residents about traffic laws, specifically with school buses.
The City of Huntingburg is dedicated to the Safe Streets for All initiative; pairing the new sign with continued education efforts is just the beginning.
“This just happens to be one tool in the toolbox that we’re utilizing,” Elkins said.