Officials discuss speeding and traffic concerns with residents
CRANBERRY TWP — For township police Sgt. William Ahlgren, it's all about perception.
A vehicle traveling 30 mph in one of the township's many communities may appear to be moving faster than a vehicle doing the same speed on Route 19, he said. That perception can make it seem as though speeding is a major problem in the township.
On Tuesday, Ahlgren and other township officials met with more than 30 residents curious about how the township deals with speeding and traffic concerns. The event was part of the township manager's coffee series.
Ahlgren demonstrated the perception issue by having an officer drive past those assembled at what appeared to be varying speeds. One pass was noticeably louder with the car's engine revved, while in another the vehicle appeared to coast past.
In all three passes, the officer was driving at 30 mph.
“A lot of times when we're at home or we're in our yard or in our house ... and somebody goes by and you hear that little bit of acceleration, you get startled and think 'they were speeding through my neighborhood,” he said. “They may have been, or maybe not.”
Ahlgren showed how the township tracks speeds, including using stop watches and distances measured on the road and signified by white lines. He said Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn't allow local police to use radar for speed enforcement, which can complicate the goal of keeping speeds low.
However, there are other ways of making sure speeds are kept down on the township's 125 miles of roads.
Read the full story to learn what tactics police use to keep speeds low.
