ROCK HILL, S.C. — Rock Hill leaders are considering lowering the speed limit in certain residential areas after a study showed some people are going almost 40 mph.
In residential areas where there is no sign showing the speed limit, the law in Rock Hill states the speed limit is 35 mph. However, city leaders said drivers are going too fast. Officials are discussing changing the speed limit from 35 to 30 miles per hour in Monday night’s council meeting.
A study conducted by the traffic commission reviewed 26 streets and five neighborhoods. One of the streets studied is Friedheim Road in Rock Hill, where James Smith has lived for almost 40 years.
“As soon as [drivers] come off the bypass, you can see them accelerate,” Smith said.
Other neighbors describe seeing similar things. Antwoine Hope added he would like to see the speed limit lowered to 25 miles per hour.
“Kids [are] out here," Hope said. "We have people coming out of their driveways … and cars are coming through really fast."
A recent traffic study showed that 85% of drivers on Friedheim Road travel at speeds up to 38 mph. City leaders said it is a trend in neighborhoods throughout Rock Hill, but going almost 40 mph is too fast in neighborhoods.
City council passed the first reading of the proposal to drop the speed limit in unposted residential areas from 35 to 30 mph on Monday. Despite this, some council members raised concerns that drivers may not be aware of when the change takes place.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal going from 30 to 35, but my thing is that I just fear that people are going to want us to now post — in every neighborhood — because now it’s confusing,” Councilmember John Black said.
The traffic commission said if the change comes law, they will implement signage on major roadways that makes it clear the speed limit in unposted areas is 35 miles per hour.
These signs are often posted along major roadways wherever a driver enters a new town or city. They're often posted as "citywide" speed limits and are intended to cover all roads within the city limit "unless otherwise posted."
Also, the traffic commission will launch a marketing campaign to spread the word about the change. Before any change can take effect, the change still has to pass a second reading.
Contact Indira Eskieva at ieskieva@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.