Poway Makes ‘Slow Down’ Traffic Signs Available for Residents

After a high-profile accident that killed a pedestrian at the intersection of Valle Verde Road and Dorset Way, the city of Poway is reminding residents it offers free signs that encourage motorists to slow down in residential areas.

The sign, which is yellow and green, reads “Slow Down in our Country Town” with a picture of a 25 mph residential speed limit placard on it and is designed to go on the front lawn of homes. It has been available for free since 2000, but after the Sept. 13 accident that killed Powegian Sharlotte Kingston, 36, the city issued a release to remind residents that this is something it offers.

Requests for the signs tapered off after 2004, and they have been stored in the city’s warehouse, said Tina White, assistant city manager. And while she hasn’t notice an increase in requests after the September accident, she did say that there have been some requests from residents of late.

“We're all sensitive to traffic-safety issues after what happened,” White said.

The city has 200 signs available, and they are intended to encourage drivers to reduce their speed and pay close attention to pedestrians. The signs are intended for residential lawns but may be placed along roadways, provided they do not impair or block motorist visibility, said Senior Traffic Engineer Zoubir Ouadah.

Each homes can request up to two signs and a HOA can request as many as it needs, he said. The temporary traffic signs are available at the Development Services Counter on the first floor of City Hall.

A study by the UK's Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions found that for each 1 mph reduction in average speeds, there is a 5 percent reduction in vehicle crashes. The speed at which a vehicle hits a pedestrian can mean the difference between life and death. The impact force on the human body is more than one-third greater at 35 mph than at 30 mph.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the Sept. 13 accident and hasn’t ruled out speed as a factor, said Sgt. Jason Rothlein.

“There are many facts and the exact cause of the collision is still under investigation,” he said.

That stretch of Valle Verde Road has had several accidents in the past five years. In January 2008, an 11-year-old boy was hit by a truck while crossing the street. And in April 2010, a 21-year-old man was killed in a high-speed crash. Residents had requested that a four-way stop sign be installed on Valle Verde, but the City Council voted 4-1 against the idea. The city, however, approved traffic-calming measures for Valle Verde more than a year ago, but there is still no scheduled start date for the work.

“We know there is a traffic problem in the city,” Councilman Dave Grosch said. He said that the City Council has scheduled an Oct. 4 meeting to “readdress what we may or may not do in the future.”

“Anything we can do to make things better for everyone is a big plus,” he said.