Proposal for Townwide 25 m.p.h. Speed Limit Hits Road Bump - Westwood Select Board Needs More Information

On January 6th, Westwood Select Board was not ready pull the trigger on Planning Board’s proposal of a townwide speed limit of 25 m.p.h., so the board closed the Annual Town Meeting Warrant at its remotely-held meeting without including the proposed article. A townwide speed limit will not be among the town’s proposed budget and other articles to be presented to voters at the May 19th Annual Town Meeting. Instead, Select Board has decided to gather more information and revisit the proposal.

In recommending that Select Board consider a townwide speed limit of 25 m.p.h., Westwood Planning Board was raising the idea on behalf of an unspecified number of people who had contacted the board with safety concerns . The Planning Board unanimously recommended that Select Board explore the proposal, given that neighboring towns have done so, said Planning Board Chair Ellen Rollings.

In a brief summary of the issue, Ms. Rollings noted that Westwood residents have expressed their concern to Planning Board that there is a pervasive problem of speeding in town center and in thickly settled parts of town.

Select Board invited the input of Westwood Police Chief Jeffrey Silva, who acknowledged the sentiments and concerns from residents, but noted his disagreement that such a policy would be effective.

Chief Silva stated there is a lack of strong evidence that a townwide speed limit of 25 m.p.h. will deter speeding. “I think that people that are inclined to speed - because they are either in a hurry, distracted, predisposed, they want to make time however they can - are going to do that regardless of the speed limit,” he said. According to the chief, it is the presence of police that is the most effective remedy to speeding.

“That’s not me trying to suggest that we have a police officer on every corner. . . But the reality of the fact is that police cars in areas slow down drivers, and pretty much nothing else, for the most part,” he told Select Board.

Chief Silva also noted the possible unintended consequences of a townwide speed limit of 25 m.p.h. Reducing speed can increase congestion, he said, and congestion can inspire drivers to engage in traffic violations to avoid the congestion.

Town Planner Elijah Romulus noted that in his research, he found that the severity of injuries to pedestrians drops off at lower speeds, when comparing accidents in 25 m.p.h. zones and accidents in 30 m.p.h. zones.

Select Board member Robert Gotti noted that he would like to know how many streets in town are considered thickly settled before making a decision.

Select Board Chair Joseph Previtera requested that Chief Silva check with his fellow police chiefs for their experience in communities where a townwide speed limit has been set. He commented that in some communities had implemented the 25 m.p.h. speed limit only in certain areas of town, not townwide.

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