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Check out our... iwatch Program Brochure

Why Have A Speed Awareness Program?

Concerns

Speeding is the most common complaint the City of Thornton receives from neighborhoods and it is because neighborhood speeding has a direct impact on quality of life for our residents.

To answer these concerns, the City has created “iwatch.” iwatch is a neighborhood speed awareness program where the City partners with local residents to take action in their neighborhood.

Engage

It is vital that residents become a partner in reducing neighborhood speeding by being leaders, not speeders. For instance, pedestrians in neighborhoods are frequently near the edge of the street. School zones are frequently within neighborhoods.

Both the City and residents want safe neighborhoods. iwatch addresses speeding in residential areas through following the three “E’s”—Educate, Engineer and Enforce.

Educate

Increasing education efforts can have a sustained impact over a long period and has the added benefit of improving a driver’s overall behavior in neighborhood.

Engineer

Engineering efforts such as speed cushions or monitoring signs typically have a sustained impact over a long period, but can be costly.

Enforce

Police enforcement in your neighborhood typically has high impact, but only over a short period of time.

Common Misconceptions About Speeding

Reducing the speed limit will slow down traffic or raising the speed limit will speed up traffic. Reasonably set speed limits increase voluntary compliance by drivers. Speed limits set too low forces drivers into unlawful behavior. Speed limits set too high create disparity in speeds among vehicles on the road, which can lead to crashes.

Stop signs will slow down traffic. Stop signs may slow traffic near the stop sign. However, speeds between stop signs increase up to five miles per hour as drivers try to “make up time” from having to stop so frequently. There is also an increase in noise near stop signs.

Engineering or traffic calming (actual diversions or obstructions in the roadway) and enforcement are the only ways to reduce neighborhood speeding. While the City will evaluate the installation of traffic calming devices on neighborhood streets, education is considered to be the first effort to be undertaken. In many cases, drivers become “comfortable” with a particular roadway or become distracted and forget to check their speed.

iwatch Neighborhoods Receive

• Signs entering the neighborhood.
• Yard signs and other materials to visibly demonstrate your neighborhood’s participation.
• New technology approved for use in Thornton.
• Neighborhood listed on City Web site.
• Direct number to call to report speeding drivers.
• Presentations to residents on speed awareness education.
• Traffic calming devices where appropriate and as permitted by City budget.

Joining iwatch is Simple

• Neighborhoods agree to be our partner. We ask that 50 percent of the residents in a targeted neighborhood agree to participate and sign the iwatch pledge.
• Residents willing to report alleged speeders and provide Thornton Police with information.
• The neighborhood designates a contact (or contacts) to help maintain neighborhood participation.
• Neighbors hand out brochures to every house in the neighborhood.
• Neighbors provide speed reduction reminders in their HOA newsletter, Web site and other publications.

For more information about the program call 720-977-6580, or e-mail trafficengineering@cityofthornton.net.