Neighborhood driving-safety program begins

Julianne Betts worries about the cars whizzing by her home on Velasco Lane in the Mesa Del Mar neighborhood, speeding around the corner from busy St. Clair Street. What if one of them hurts her kids?

“They don’t play in the street, but there’s always that ball that could roll out there at just the wrong time,” she said.

Fortunately for her, that street became part of the national Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25 campaign that was announced at a news conference and information session Wednesday afternoon. It’s the second neighborhood in Costa Mesa to join the program. Betts is a volunteer block captain for her neighborhood’s effort, and she helped make sure signs sporting the safe-driving slogan went up on lawns throughout the area.

According to the national campaign’s website, studies show that more than 75% of drivers slow down when they see the signs. Neighbors, motorcycle officers and local government officials attended Wednesday’s meeting to spread information and to learn more.

Lt. David Andersen, traffic bureau commander at the Costa Mesa Police Department, said the signs are a chance to raise awareness, and that volunteers were passing out key chains, pamphlets and bumper stickers as well.

“We’re trying to make drivers aware of the risks to children,” Andersen said. “Parked cars, for example, are a huge threat because they obstruct visibility.”

The signs are only one part of the city’s push to control traffic in residential neighborhoods, Andersen said. Before the signs go up, the city deploys a radar trailer with an LCD display, so drivers see by how much they exceed the speed limit.

After the signs have been out for seven to 10 days, police shift from raising awareness to enforcement, patrolling the area by motorcycle. Though the city only has resources to cover one neighborhood at a time now, Andersen hopes to expand the program once it shows success in several places.

The initiative will move to a new neighborhood before the signs lose the shock of the new, said Jeanette Chervony, community service specialist for the Costa Mesa Police Department.

“We don’t want people to become so accustomed to the signs that they start ignoring them,” she said.

The program will move wherever residents ask for it, Chervony said. People who want to get involved, or just request help with speeding in their area, should call (714) 754-4902 or e-mail kkad25@ci.costa -mesa.ca.us.

There is a website for the local branch of the program, as well, at www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/cmpd /drive25.htm.