"This is long overdue, and a first step, one of many, that we need to take," one Worcester resident said during a City Council meeting on Tuesday. This reflects a widespread acknowledgment of the urgent need for improved road safety measures in the community, particularly for vulnerable pedestrians such as children.
"I have parishioners who come to my church by foot, on the bus, in wheelchairs, and we have many children involved in the church," she said. "These are all people who are put at risk by high speed and dangerous driving in the city. I want them all to be safe and treated as fair users of the city's roads and sidewalks." Stewart's statements underscore the personal impact of traffic safety in diverse community populations.
Three recent traffic accidents in Worcester involving children, in addition to more than 90 pedestrian-involved crashes in 2024, prompted city officials to declare a 'Road Safety and Traffic Violence Crisis' in July. This alarming trend highlights the critical need for immediate action as city officials work to safeguard residents, especially the most vulnerable.
Some residents raised concerns about the measure, questioning the ability of police to enforce the new limit and the effectiveness of lowering the speed limit. One resident said lowering the speed limit will divert traffic to side streets. 'You're going to move the problem to the communities,' he said. This comment reveals skepticism about whether speed limit changes will effectively enhance safety.
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