County Resident favors Speed Bumps on County Roads & Streets
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
Maverick County resident Vanessa Hernandez recently addressed Maverick County Commissioners Court during the citizen’s communication agenda of the meeting held on Monday, July 27, 2015, advocating for the placement of speed bumps on Maverick County roads and streets while denouncing local motorists failure to pay attention to the roads, signs, speed, and becoming distracted with their cell phones or I-Pads or other electronic devices while driving.
Hernandez advised Commissioners Court that she recently requested and had placed speed bumps on Kypuros Road in the Hopedale area of Eagle Pass, Texas to protect the children and residents living in the now densely populated area from speeding drivers and inattentive drivers using their cell phones or electronic devices while driving, causing a serious risk of injury or accident to children and residents.
“The reason I am here today is to express my concern about Justice of the Peace David Castaneda’s intentions to have the speed humps removed,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez noted that prior to the installation of the speed bumps and signs on Kypuros Road, there were no such signs warning drivers or motorists to drive slow or the speed limit. She noted that these signs and speed bumps are taking a while for motorists transiting on Kypuros Road to notice and obey.
“I have four children ages 9,5,4 and 2 years old and today I’m here for their safety and also for the safety of the other children that live all around me,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez noted that approximately 2 years ago a Slow Down Children at Play sign had been placed on Kypuros Road but that it has not slowed down the speed of the commuters transiting the road as they continuously disrespect it.
Hernandez claimed that the Kypuros Road area is unsafe even to go and bike ride and play outside due to the excessive speeds that vehicles accelerate while on that road.
“People have no respect for what they see on the side of the road. It has gotten to the point where one commuter has disrespected me with his middle finger in front of my children because I was standing on the side of the road asking him to slow down,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez stated that it has been over a month’s time since the speed bumps have been installed on Kypuros Road and that people still continue to drive excessively, hitting the speed bumps at full speed causing their vehicles to jump and hit bottom.
“If people would pay more attention to the warning signs instead of texting or talking on their cell phones, we would not be having this problem,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez stated that recently a speed limit sign had been installed and that she was pessimistic that it would help alleviate the problem of speeding commuters because motorists are too busy driving excessively and/or texting on their cell phones, jeopardizing the safety and welfare of children playing on the road or other people using the road.
“I find it hard to believe that it will make a difference when the people have not been able to respect the warning signs that have been there for some time now,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez expressed that she felt that the speed bumps had been installed to suppress high vehicle speeds and to protect the children and allow them to play in their front yard or ride their bikes without the worry of being run over.
“At the Hernandez residence, outdoor play is encouraged and takes precedence to I-Pods, I-Pads, Xboxes, or a Nintendo game. Justice of the Peace David Castaneda has been going around the neighborhood asking for support to remove the speed bumps because he does not feel that these speed bumps are built correctly and they can cause damage to his or the residents’ vehicles. As a former law enforcement officer, I would think that safety would be his (Castaneda) main concern and now as a public official, I would think that there are more serious issues to be concerned with in the County than two speed humps that might damage a vehicle or maybe just maybe, protect the life of a child at play,” said Hernandez.
“This problem could easily be resolved. We could ask Justice of the Peace Castaneda to slow down and encourage his fellow supporters to slow down and avoid a tragedy happen to a priceless life, because we are all here to protect a vehicle that is in a hurry to get to its destination,” concluded Hernandez.
Maverick County Commissioners Court have authorized and installed hundreds, if not thousands, of speed bumps on many Maverick County roads and streets over the years with the purpose to provide a safe environment for children and residents of these heavily trafficked roadways.
Maverick County drivers and motorists do need to pay attention to all road signs and speed bumps while driving and completely avoid texting while driving as it may cause a fatal accident which one may regret and harm a young child or adult. Don’t text and drive.
