Residents Demand Action to Curb Dangerous Speeding in Charleston Neighborhood

In a Charleston, South Carolina community, residents are growing increasingly concerned about the safety of their streets as drivers continue to speed through their neighborhood, putting pedestrians, children, and pets at risk. Despite previous efforts to address the issue, the problem persists, and residents are now calling for immediate action to address the dangerous situation.

Neighborhood Plagued by Reckless Driving, Residents Seek Solutions

Brittlebush Lane: A Speedway Through the Heart of the Community

Residents of the Whitney Lakes neighborhood on Johns Island have been grappling with the issue of speeding drivers on Brittlebush Lane for years. Kent Kise, a longtime resident, recounts how a tree in the area was hit by a speeder three years ago, highlighting the severity of the problem. "Every morning and every evening we're seeing cars racing through here at 40 to 50 miles an hour," Kise says, describing the constant flow of through-traffic to nearby Maybank Highway.The neighborhood has dubbed the stretch of Brittlebush Lane the "Brittlebush Speedway," a nickname that reflects the dangerous driving conditions residents face daily. With walkways on both sides of the road and the presence of children, pets, and pedestrians, the situation has become a growing safety concern for the community.

Residents Demand Speed Bumps to Slow Down Drivers

Kise and his neighbors have been persistently advocating for the installation of speed bumps on Brittlebush Lane, a measure they believe would help curb the reckless driving and improve the overall safety of the area. However, their efforts have yet to yield the desired results, as speed bumps have been installed on other roads in the neighborhood but not on the stretch that sees the worst of the speeding problem."Of all areas that need speed calming and speed humps, this stretch right here is the most deserving," Kise emphasizes. "If they want to prevent some serious accidents, they need to do it now."

City Bureaucracy Slows Down the Process for Safety Improvements

The process for getting speed bumps installed on Brittlebush Lane has been a frustrating one for the residents. According to Robert Somerville, the City of Charleston's Section Chief of Public Works, the city has a specific set of requirements that must be met before speed bumps can be considered.First, a petition signed by at least 75% of the residents in the area is required, demonstrating widespread support for the measure. Then, a study must be conducted to prove that approximately 350 vehicles are traveling at speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour through the area. Only after these criteria are met can the proposal be taken to the city council for approval.This bureaucratic process has been a source of frustration for the residents, who feel that the safety of their community should be the top priority. "It's not a matter of if it's going to happen, someone's going to get seriously hurt," Kise warns, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Another High-Speed Crash Reignites Calls for Action

The residents' concerns have been further amplified by a recent high-speed crash that occurred on Brittlebush Lane. Kise reports that another vehicle has crashed into the same tree that was hit three years ago, underscoring the ongoing danger posed by speeding drivers in the neighborhood."We had a very high-impact crash on the same tree in the same area," Kise says. "So, it just goes to show just how dangerous this area has gotten."The repeated incidents have only strengthened the residents' resolve to find a solution and prevent further accidents from occurring. They are determined to navigate the city's bureaucratic process and secure the necessary approvals to have speed bumps installed on Brittlebush Lane, hoping to finally address the "Brittlebush Speedway" problem once and for all.