When I was living in Westport, Connecticut, during the 1990s, many roads feeding into the main Post Road were paved-over, 200-year-old cow trails. These roads were narrow and winding as they once threaded their way around local farm properties. Then the trouble began.
As Westport became more popular among weekenders from New York City and New Jersey, it became harder to control reckless driver speeds on those narrow, winding roads. So, speed humps were created to slow down those tourists who viewed those roads as perfect for driver agility tests.
Then, one driver from New Jersey blew out the oil pan on his Mercedes while speeding over one of those humps. He sued the town of Westport for his losses and his injured pride. The judge laughed him out of court with an admonition to read the speed limit signs as posted.
All of this is to say, if speeding drivers are becoming a dangerous neighborhood problem, install the speed humps, and let reckless drivers speed at their own risk and expense.
David Ohman
Durango
