Don't delay in taking the steps to lower speed limits in area

The reality of rising prices has caused many to re-evaluate and change their living habits. In many ways, we are being encouraged to think "outside the box."

My own outside the box thinking, related to increasing gas prices, would go something like this:

It's a fact that slowing down saves gas and lives. The mere suggestion of slowing down can make incurable speeders and "gotta run here, gotta run there" addicts uneasy.

For those who habitually run late and are accustomed to an adrenalized dash to places, slowing down is unthinkable. Slowing down would mean having to give up their adrenal buzz and consistently leave for work or school 10 or 15 minutes earlier.

For some adrenaline junkies, slowing down might even require a 12-step program to cure. They'd have to find something other than being late, violating speed limits, running traffic lights or "easing" past the flashing red lights of stopped school buses to get their fixes.

My suggestion is to drastically reduce the speed limits in Catonsville. Strict enforcement and stiff fines would be the standard.

Let me give an example that I believe many can relate to. Try speeding through Dewey Beach where the 25 mile per hour speed limit has been strictly and consistently enforced for years.

I learned my lesson after receiving a speeding ticket in the middle of February for driving too fast on Ocean Highway through the town.

Now I've been conditioned, just like thousands of others, to drive slower through Dewey Beach, even in the off-season. And it doesn't hurt a bit. It's actually nice to slow down and really enjoy the ride and scenery.

Let's break the mold by creating a new standard in Catonsville, start a trend and set a new precedent for other communities to follow. We may change the pace, safety and peace, of more than just our own wonderful corner of the world.

Frederick Road, between the Beltway and Rolling Road, would become a 20 mph zone; the same with Edmondson Avenue, between the Beltway and its west end (by Catonsville Middle School).

The full length of Rolling Road, between Route 166 (at the Park-N-Ride) and Old Frederick Road, near the Catonsville Senior Center, would be 25 mph zones .

Take all side streets down at least 5-10 mph with no exceptions.

Until those who use our roads are conditioned to keep speeds way down, speed traps would remain in place around the clock in various locations.

Substantial financial penalties could help fund local projects, scholarships, services and other events. These revenues could even fund some suitable (green) neighborhood trolleys for rides into town on weekends or even through the week.

A slower pace may also encourage residents to save gas, get some exercise and enjoy the beauty of our community by walking to town for a meal at one of our restaurants.

Is it asking too much for people to just slow down?

Does it really make that much difference whether a destination is reached at 5:16 p.m. as compared to 5:21 p.m.?

In current collective thinking, it is difficult to envision a radically slower pace. Except in the racing, emergency medicine and computing worlds, I am hard pressed to find shining examples of where faster really and truly means better.

Bud Allen

Catonsville

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