Northwood News ♦ February 2005

Hannes Street Residents Seek Speed Controls

By Murray F. Scher

Increasingly over the years, Hannes Street has become a favorite street for some dangerous, speeding drivers.  The 300 and 400 blocks of Hannes are a “straightaway, flyaway” both up and down the street.  Our street has important multiple uses, including Forest Knolls Elementary School and playground.

The intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Hannes Street, at right angles, is not too safe.  This intersection provides access to Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, the cooperative preschool housed in the church, and the nursery school at the Young Israel Shom­rai Emunah synagogue.  Most people don’t know who has the right of way at this intersection; speeders just take the right of way.

Last but not least, the homeowners who reside on both sides of Hannes Street hear the roar of accelerating and speeding motors all hours of the day or night.  Homeowners living on both sides of the street must be in fear when pulling out of their driveways because, as they enter into the street, a speeding driver might be coming over the hill, might not be able to stop in time, thereby causing a serious accident or injury to all concerned.

But, most important, what about the children going and coming from school or to the playground?  There aren’t any speed controls in the area or on the curbside, such as speed bumps, speed limit signs, or school zone speed limits.

Hannes Street is only three cars wide.  Residents who have more than one car must park their other additional cars on the street.  Many times the street becomes fully parked with cars on both sides of the street, especially on weekends, leaving only one lane open in the center of the road.

Case in point:  Monday, 15 November 2004, between 8:00 and 8:30 p.m., on the 300 block of Hannes Street, across from the playground.  The road conditions were dry; it is dark outside.  I couldn’t believe the scene.  I have lived at 405 Hannes Street since 1962 and I had never seen a sight like this.  I saw lots of flashing lights, lighting up my living room.  I looked out, there were one or two fire engines, an ambulance, and two police cars, all with flashing lights.  I went outside and met some of my neighbors, standing on the sidewalks on both sides of the street.  They had also seen the lights and came outside to see what had happened.

This is what happened.  A sport utility vehicle (SUV) had been speeding up the center lane, the only open lane; cars were parked on both sides of the road.  The speeding car collided with a parked, new red sports car parked on his right by the curb (by playground).  The red car belonged to the neighbor across the street.  The SUV driver’s natural reaction was to turn away from the source of the accident.  While traveling at a high rate of speed, he turned hard and quick to his left, causing his vehicle to flip over on its left side (driver’s side).  The SUV continued sliding (with driver inside) up Hannes Street for approximately 50 feet.  The first red car was totaled and a second car on the other side of the street where he finally stopped was damaged.  The driver had to crawl out of the window on the passenger side of the vehicle — with the help of fire fighters and police — to get out.  Some of us inquired if he needed help or assistance.  He refused, although his trousers were torn, which indicated his leg might have been injured.  He also refused the ambulance help.  End of story.

There have been other accidents on our street.  One happened on my property.  A van, speeding and out of control, came up on my front lawn and crashed into the side of a parked car on my driveway.  In the parked car was a neighbor with two children in the back seat.  Fortunately, no one was hurt, but there was a lot of auto bodywork.  The speeding car was driving very fast when he lost control.  The speeder asked the owner of the parked car not to call the police and not to notify the insurance company!  He would pay for the damages!  Why?  No insurance?  Other accidents?  Bad driving record?  Points to be paid?  (The parked car owner did call the police.)

Well, after all many years of tolerating and not saying or doing anything about this problem, we all agreed enough is enough.  “The buck must stop here.” We, as a group of four individual homeowners, went as concerned residents and finally spoke out.  We presented this problem to the Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association at the December meeting.  We asked for advice, opinions, help, counsel, and the strength in numbers that may be needed to have Montgomery County install speed bumps; posted speed mileage signs; speed limit signs at the school crossings, especially near the playground; and possibly a yield sign at the intersection of Hannes Street and Edgewood Avenue.

Let’s consider the importance of safety and well being for the folks living on Hannes, the people taking and picking up their children at Forest Knolls Elementary School, the people who drive and walk to church and synagogue during the week and weekends, the folks who like to walk, and other law-abiding safe drivers.  Hannes Street is a great street, it’s a pretty street, it’s a necessary and vital street.  A lot of good people live here.  Let’s make it safer.

If you agree, as I and my other neighbors do, in asking for street bumps and posted speed signs in the 300 and 400 blocks of Hannes Street, especially in or near the school area, please drop me a line or email [contact details redacted].  Please send me your name and address saying you agree.  We are not asking for funds; this is strictly a voluntary effort.  If we can get enough residents to agree, then I and some of my neighbors will take all of our letters/emails to the “powers that be” in Montgomery County and we will try to get the job done.

Thanks.   ■