Pages

Friday, March 23, 2018

Will speed cameras make Indian Head Highway safer?

(Click on the image for John Domen's WTOP report)
  • “It’s like the autobahn,” said Del. Tony Knotts, one of the three representatives in Maryland House District 26, through which Route 210 runs. The entire Prince George’s County delegation supports Knotts and Del. Kris Valderrama in their efforts to put speed cameras along the road.
  • The unprecedented move has run into opposition in Annapolis, which traditionally has only allowed speed cameras to be placed in construction zones and near school zones, not high speed highways.
  • Earlier this week, before it could clear the House of Delegates, a bill that would allow speed cameras on Route 210 was amended to allow just a single camera placed in the southbound lanes at Old Fort Road.
  • The bill’s fate in the Senate is far from certain. “It’s needed,” Valderrama said.
  • “We definitely have our challenges,” conceded Maj. James Keleti, the commander of the 7th Police District with Prince George’s County Police. “We know speed is an issue. We know people talking on their cellphones, using hand held devices is an issue.” He said officers conducting traffic stops have been rear-ended by cars speeding down the road. He shared a story about an officer who clocked a car going 116 mph in a 55 mph zone during a traffic stop last October.