City discusses options to reduce speed limits in some neighborhoods

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte city leaders get multiple requests to get the speed limit reduced and speed humps placed on neighborhood streets.

City officials are looking into ways to fulfill those requests.

One solution is to lower the residential speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph as a way to reduce crashes.

As a taxi driver, Yohannes Tecle sees a lot of speeders every day, not only while working, but also near his home.

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“I try and protect myself to not get hit,” Tecle said.

Tecle said that he’s lucky there’s a speed bump in front of his home. However, on the next street over, on Power Horn Road, there is nothing, not even speed limit signs.

Currently, according to state law, that means the limit is 35 mph.

“That should be even less than that because it is short road,” Tecle said.

To change the speed limit, a petition or Charlotte Department of Transportation director approval is required.

The move would align with the council's goal of safer streets in Charlotte.

Statistics provided by the CDOT claim that nine out of 10 people survive when struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 mph.

The rate drops to five out of 10 people who are hit at 30 mph.

The report shows that one out of 10 people survive after being hit by a car going 40 mph.

Willis Merriman, who lives off Yuma Street in the Hidden Valley neighborhood, said officials need to lower the speed limit where he lives.

“You trying to get out of your driveway, before you look they coming at you like a bullet,” Merriman said.

The city is also considering making it easier for neighborhoods to request and obtain multi-way stops and speed humps on their streets

A final recommendation will be presented to the transportation committee next month.

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