Summary:

• We witness cars speeding by our homes at all times of day, and many of us have almost been hit by speeding cars and have witnessed the aftermath of reckless drivers. 
• We are constantly concerned about children, who are always out playing and walking (e.g. the local playground and daycare), and are often unpredictable. We’ve witnessed numerous close calls.
• A recent speed study conducted by DPW&T revealed that, in two locations on Midway Dr., over 50% of drivers made an enforceable violation.
• Warnings and signage have proven ineffective in controlling the problem. We need a permanent, evidence-based solution.

Segment from 2023 Petition

We, the concerned residents of Patuxent Homes in Lexington Park, MD, urgently request the installation of speed humps on Midway Drive, Saratoga Drive, and North Essex Drive to address the persistent and worsening safety concerns caused by speeding vehicles.

Our neighborhood is home to hundreds of families and children who deserve a safe environment to live and play. Speeding drivers endanger all residents of Patuxent Homes, and have for over the past 20 years. We witness cars speeding by our homes at all times of day, and have witnessed close calls and the aftermath of reckless drivers. Many of us have observed this speeding issue upon moving to Patuxent Homes, but as of late, the problem has gotten even worse. A solution to this problem is necessary and well overdue. Installing speed humps in Patuxent Homes is a viable solution to effectively deter speeding and promote safer streets for all. 

Evidence of the Speeding Issue in Patuxent Homes

In summary: residents of Patuxent Homes have been struck by vehicles; residents have experienced and witnessed many potentially tragic close-calls involving pedestrians, children, and animals; our children are often biking and playing in the neighborhood, walking to bus stops, daycare, friends’ homes, and the park, and the presence of speeding cars around them is a grave concern; vehicular collisions and close-calls frequently occur due to speeding, and the issue is worsened by the compact nature of the neighborhood and the necessary usage of street-parking.

Below are residents’ first-hand accounts and fears regarding the speeding issue in Patuxent Homes, as collected through a 2023 survey:

• “I live on Midway and see it every day. I fear for the people who walk in this area, considering there is a high amount of people who walk, including children.”
• A neighbor was tragically hit by a car and had to experience the painful process of rehabilitation to learn to walk again.
• One resident’s dog got loose in the street and was struck by a speeding car. 
• One resident shared how they have “personally almost been struck by speeders at least 4 times”. Another said, “I’ve almost been struck a few times by speeders. They fly through and don’t pay attention to the people walking around cars or getting in/out of cars.” 
• “I’ve seen children almost get hit on several occasions,” one resident said. 
• “Kids getting off the school bus having to cross the street and the drivers are careless about our children”, another resident said.
• One resident noted how signage is not helping – “I have neighbors with toddlers and the have a kids sign on the curb to make aware of children playing, but it’s not working because they continue to fly through Midway Dr like it’s a highway”
• Many residents expressed constant worry about the children. “It only takes one child to get killed for the community to hurt,” one resident said. “One is too many.” Another said, “Speed bumps on North Essex would ease my mind should a child run in the road, or a car get out of hand and end up in my yard. They should be on every street because all the children deserve to be safe.”
• As for car collisions, one resident said, “I live right at the intersection of N. Essex and Saratoga. I’ve seen 3 accidents since summer started due to people not stopping and running stop signs from speeding.”
• “Parked cars have been struck, for speeding through not knowing/caring that other cars approaching the opposite side, still the motorist speeds past with no regards”
• “The parallel parking is not safe. In some sections there is not enough room to pass through when driving your car. Speeding cars make it worse when there is a slow down to pass between cars.”

A recent speed study provides proof of concerning speeds on Midway Drive

From May 8th to May 12th, DPW&T conducted a speed study in Patuxent Homes. On Midway Dr. in the area of Ranger Rd, 54% of the vehicles analyzed exceeded the speed limit enough to warrant a ticket (A.K.A. an “enforceable violation”) out of the 8,036 cars detected. On the same road, in the area of Wasp Dr., 58% of the vehicles analyzed performed an enforceable violation out of the 4,775 cars detected. During a meeting, DPW reviewed the data and found some cars were speeding up to 70mph. This study provides data to support what residents have been seeing for years—a significant speeding issue in Patuxent Homes.