News 12 at 11 o'clock, July 28, 2010

EVANS, Ga.---A Columbia County neighborhood has rallied to crack down on speeders. It's taken almost a year, but the Bridlewood Subdivision now has four long-awaited speed humps.

News 12 told you about the problems with speeders in the subdivision last August. Now, speeders better get ready to hit the brakes.

"We were pretty excited. I was happy to see them put in at the top of the hill," said Gene Jensen, who has four children and has lived in the community for seven years.

Jensen says the speed humps are long overdue.

"Since we've lived here, I've worried about my kids playing in the front yard," he said. "They [drivers] went up and down up, down and up, and I met them at the road right here one day and told them never to show up again. I mean, because they were flying."

Matt Schlachter, director of construction management for Columbia County, explained the process: "We try to get a good grasp of what the speed is for that road, and then we go from there. If the 80 percentile speed is 35 miles per hour or higher for that road, then it qualifies for speed humps."

The county calculates that number by doing a speed study. In Bridlewood's case, the 85th percentile speed was 37 mph: 12 mph over the limit. The highest speed recorded was 55 miles per hour.

Barry Shealy believes the neighborhood is safer now that the humps are there. "I wish it had been done quicker, but, you know, better late than never," he said. "If you feel the need to go faster, do it on a two lane highway. Don't do it in a neighborhood."

Some neighbors were against the humps. Jensen wonders how anyone can be against something that is meant to be safer.

"Why would anyone oppose speed bumps on a road?" he asked. "I know it takes them a little bit longer to get to their house, but who cares? My kid's still alive."

County officials say they would entertain any neighborhood paying for their own speed humps. Neighbors can come in and get a permit. The county would still have to do the speed study to justify the humps. For more information contact Columbia County Engineering and Environmental Services Division's Traffic Engineering Department at: (706) 447-7611.