For more information Contact: Terry Witkowski 414-731-0472
Milwaukee
County police chiefs will join together with AAA Wisconsin and TAPCO,
a local sign shop, to help citizens slow down speeders. A donation from
AAA Wisconsin and Traffic and Parking Control Co., Inc., of "Slow
Down" lawn signs will enable police departments in Milwaukee
County to revive a program and again offer residents assistance in addressing
their neighborhood speeding problems.
"Each
department will receive a set of 20 signs to be loaned to residents for
a 30 day period," said Ernie Stetenfeld, Vice President of corporate
relations for AAA Wisconsin. "They are meant to be displayed on both
sides of street in a two block area for 30 days to call attention to the
fact that neighbors are concerned about speeding on that street. With
that grouping, drivers can't help but notice them and think about their
speed" he said.
They
politely carry the message of "Thank You for Slowing Down" on
the reverse side. "The signs do work to slow down traffic by 3 to
5 miles per hour" reported Rich Bergholz, President of TAPCO. Two
years ago, TAPCO, AAA Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee County Law Enforcement
Executives Association cooperated with the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater
in a study of the effectiveness of the signs. The study found that traffic
speeds were affected by the 20 sign grouping in place for 30 days and
that even after the signs were gone for a month, speeds were still down
by 3 to 5 miles per hour.
"Police
chiefs found that this program was very well received and was very much
in demand by residents last time we tried it," said Greenfield Police
Chief Frank Springob, current president of the Milwaukee County chiefs
organization. "It was so well received, that police departments would
certainly accept additional donations of sets of signs from businesses
and civic groups to meet the demand for them. This donation is very much
appreciated and is very timely as driver's speeds tend to increase as
the warmer weather and dry pavements arrive, so this program arrives just
in time to help us work with neighbors to reduce speeding in their neighborhoods,"
he said.
Area
chiefs will be getting their set of signs this week and residents can
contact their local police department to learn how to borrow the set. |
