Dear Editor,

In the past I have made pleas about drivers respecting the speed limit in my neighborhood, and I have all but given up hope that drivers care at all about the safety of children and animals in my neighborhood.

Drivers are too self-absorbed and inconsiderate and mindlessly continue to endanger my children. However, I find it inexcusable that drivers completely disregard the speed limit around Point Pleasant Intermediate School in the morning and evening when children are present.

I have appealed through e-mails to the mayor and chief of police at least once a month since the beginning of school and have been told there is nothing they can or will do about the morning speeding because the officers are busy getting the daily report. I have talked to city council members who have been empathetic about my concerns, but every morning, cars speed down 28th Street well in excess of the 15 mph school zone limit. I am not “guessing” they are speeding; I have personally calculated the speed using a set distance and a stopwatch, as it does not require the skills of a NASA scientist.

There was also a problem of people running the stop sign at the end of Parrish Avenue, and when I pointed that out to our city officials, the sign disappeared, a sign that had been in place for more than 30 years. I suppose that is one way of dealing with that problem.

I wonder if the school speed limit signs will be removed or increased to justify the speeds of those going down 28th Street? I was naive enough to think the school system would be interested in speeding around one of the schools and the dangers it poses to students, but a letter and several calls to the board have never created one response.

Well, I do care, and I am the one you will hear asking you very loudly if you are going the speed limit. So if you do not want me yelling a verbal reminder of the speed limit, then follow the visual speed limit signs.

If you have a license in West Virginia or Ohio, then you know the speed limit in a school zone. I see many children walking and riding bikes to that school and I have seen near misses. I have seen drivers yell at children when the drivers have been the ones who have been reckless. I do not want to see a child hurt or killed.

Drivers, respect the privilege you have been granted and show respect to the children and parents of the children just like you want to be respected yourself.

Sincerely,

John Hipes,

Point Pleasant