Newbold: Rules of the road, safe or simply legal

To the Editor:

I would like to extend some genuine appreciation to the Newbold town board. This group of dedicated individuals has accepted and embraced the role of managing town business for the greater good of the town of Newbold, residents, and visitors. This is done in an environment of dwindling resources, and increasing demands. Encumbered by aging infrastructure and a growing population of permanent and temporary residents, each with expressed and implied demands. I honestly do thank you.

With that said, I would like to address “unreasonable, unsafe and imprudent speeds on certain town streets and highways.” This is the exact language the Newbold Town Board used on October 29, 2020, in Traffic Code: 7.04(4) to decrease speeds on 28 roads in the township. In the interest of public safety, it seems reasonable to expect this rationale and method could be extended to other roadways in the township. During the April 24 town board meeting, as invited public comment, several Black Lake Road residents reported unreasonable speeds on 3 miles of Black Lake Road and 4 miles of Gypsy Lake Road. It was noted these sections of road are multiple use roads/trails with cars, ATVs, bicycle routes, snowmobiles, pedestrians, and wildlife. They are similar to most township roads in this area; with multiple curves and hills, limited pavement width, small shoulders, no lane markings and deep ditches, with no posted speed limits.

The board agreed to add speed limits to the agenda for the May 8 meeting. During the May 8 meeting, as promised, the speeds on these specific sections of road were indeed discussed. However, the outcome was shocking. The board chairman researched the issue and reported the following:

1) Any section of township road, without posted speed limits, defaults to 55 mph as the legal speed limit. 

2) Black Lake Road has had “only!” 60 reported accidents in the past 20 years. (Near miss and unreported accidents don’t provide actionable data). 

3) It takes a long time to implement speed limit changes with the required involvement of the Department of Transportation and ordinance changes. 

4) There are not enough residents along those roads to justify a change. 

5) Due to limited law enforcement resources, if the speed limits were reduced, they would likely be ignored. Ironically there was no mention or credit given to the vast majority of drivers who reduce their speed in the presence of a posted speed limit.

The board did agree to implement one action item as a result of the May 8 meeting: To request temporary installation of a “speed board” (speed monitoring device) on Black Lake Road. This would inform drivers of their radar measured speed. During the meeting concern was voiced that this would essentially advertise to drivers that they should travel 55 mph on that road which, for the most part, cannot safely support that speed. The board said the 55-mph sign would not be used. Unfortunately, on May 13 the speed control device was installed displaying 55 mph as the speed limit. Curiously, the monitoring device was placed in the limited stretch of road where 55 mph might be appropriate.

In conclusion: The town of Newbold has the responsibility to provide users of town roads protection from “unreasonable, unsafe and imprudent speeds on all town streets and highways.” It may be cumbersome and time consuming to implement, however it is the proper thing to do. Until such time this is accomplished, for those using these roads, please drive responsibly. Just because the law says you can drive 55 mph doesn’t imply you should. 

Scott Luedtke

Newbold