Sheriff hopes new digital reminders will help slow drivers throughout the county
Speeding drivers is a primary concern of Oglethorpe County officials.
So, the sheriff’s office has taken a step toward remedying the issue by installing nine digital speed signs throughout the county — with more to come.
Adam Nation, the county’s public works director, said the signs have been installed in these locations:
- Two on U.S. Highway 78 in Lexington
- Two on U.S. Highway 78 in Crawford
- Two on Smokey Road in Crawford
- One by the recreation department on North Street in Crawford
- One on Hargrove Lake Road, near Sonlight Baptist Church
- One on Beaverdam Road by the Beaverdam Fire Department
The plan is to implement more signs, which will be installed when the sheriff’s office receives them from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
“We have not gotten either sign for Maxeys yet,” Sheriff David Gabriel said. “There are a couple more speed signs for the county that will go up, and some illuminated stop signs for Sandy Cross Road.”
The signs, which were paid for by a grant through the state, digitally display the speed of passing drivers. This reminds drivers of their speed and helps them self-police themselves.
Digital speed signs are widely effective in slowing speeds, as evidenced by StreetSmart Traffic Data Collection and Reporting software from RadarSign. When alerted by a radar sign, speeders will slow down up to 80% of the time, according to the study.
The same study reports that average speeds are reduced by 10-20% when alerted by a digital speed sign, and compliance with the speed limit will increase by 30-60%.
Gabriel said he has already witnessed changes in the time the signs have been in place.
“We put them up the other day, and I had some deputies go in front of the Red Rabbit (a convenience store in Crawford) and check speeds to see if it made any difference,” he said. “It seemed to be already making somewhat of a reduction in people speeding through that area.”
Gabriel said he hopes residents and those passing through Oglethorpe County will see how fast they’re driving and think about their speed.
“Hopefully, it's something that people will see and remind themselves to slow down,” he said. “Then we don't have to go forward and actually take some type of action to remind people. In the end, you really want people to police themselves.”