Monday, June 05, 2000
New highway spurs speeders
1,000 drivers stopped in six months
By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LIBERTY TWP. — To most Butler County commuters, the new regional highway connecting Interstate 75 to Hamilton is simply a new road that makes their traveling easier. But where some see the Michael A. Fox Highway — with its smooth surface and wide, straight lanes — as a more efficient commute, others see an unofficial racetrack.
“There's a lot of speeding going on out there,” said Sgt. Doug Crawford. “It kind of surprised me.”
He's the sheriff's deputy in charge of the Liberty Township police substation, which patrols most of the 11-mile highway.
More than 1,000 drivers have been stopped on the highway since it opened in December. Sgt. Crawford said deputies issued 715 moving violation citations and 314 warnings. He said most warnings and tickets were for speeding.
Police clocked one east bound driver at 124 mph. That speeder eluded police. Another was clocked by radar at 119 mph and at least two others were caught doing more than 100 mph.
Most speeders exceed the 65 mph speed limit by 10-20 mph.
So far there have been no bad crashes, serious injuries or fatalities, but that's little consolation to Sgt. Crawford.
“We have to cut these speeds down or we're going to have a serious problem out there,” he said.
Patrols have been increased and an automated speed-warning system, which stands by the roadside and flashes the speeds of passing cars, is being posted along the roadway.
Hamilton city officials share his concern.
They're hearing complaints about dangerously fast traffic near two schools on Hamilton's eastern border, where the highway en ters city limits.
The speed limit drops from 65 mph to 50 mph at the Ohio 4 bypass, then to 35 mph in Hamilton.
City officials want speed limits lowered to 20 mph during restricted school hours for elementary and junior high school students crossing the highway at Fair Avenue.
Officials from nearby Garfield Junior High and Buchanan Elementary schools employ a crossing guard at the intersection, and city officials in March asked the Ohio Department of Trans portation for permission to lower the speed limit to 20 mph during school hours.
ODOT officials are considering the request.
ODOT spokeswoman Janis Cravens said many communities see more speeding when new highways open — even when an old road is resurfaced.
“It's not uncommon for speeds to increase when we put down a new surface or open a new road. It's new. It's smooth and it feels good on the car,” Ms. Cravens said.
Those were the factors cited recently by a Mason woman pulled over by deputies in Liberty Township. She received a warning after radar caught her doing 75 mph in the highway's 65 mph zone.
“The highway is new and not crowded,” she said, requesting her name not be used. “The road is real smooth.”
Then there is the increasing pace of life in Butler County.
Another driver, who also asked not to be identified, said shortly after being pulled over and warned for speeding, “people are in a hurry and they don't watch for signs anymore.”
Fines reflect speed above the posted limit and the driver's previous record. In Butler County, drivers caught above 100 mph can expect a minimum of $105 plus additional fines for reckless operation and court costs.
The divided four-lane highway is expected to handle 35,000 vehicles a day and promote economic development for Hamilton and parts of Liberty and Fairfield townships. The highway has interchanges at Bypass 4, Ohio 747, Cincinnati-Dayton Road and its connection with I-75.
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