A sign advises drivers to use caution as they approach the W Road near Anderson Pike in Walden, TN. Though signs like these have been installed along Anderson Pike, accidents continue to occur, prompting the need for a new safety measures, like a radar speed sign.With speeding issues on Anderson Pike not slowing down, Walden officials are planning to purchase a radar speed sign to help alert drivers on the troublesome road.
The electronic sign will record and display drivers’ speed, giving them a chance to decelerate before they arrive at the bend near the intersection of East Brow Road and Anderson Pike, where Mayor Bill Trohanis said there are at least four car accidents per year.
“It’s just a hard road to maneuver, and it surprises some drivers because it’s got the hairpin [turn],” Trohanis said. “Hopefully, this will work and alert drivers so they’ll actually know how fast they’re going before they hit that curve.”
While the bend is the first place officials hope to install the sign, it isn’t the only one. The device comes with a lock-and-key mount that the town can purchase more of, allowing the sign to be moved to other trouble areas, such as Wilson Avenue and nearby roads that have garnered citizen concern, said Vice Mayor Thom Peterson.
The device, which Trohanis said would cost from $2,800 to $3,000, will also record the number of cars that go by and how fast they were driving, enabling officials to identify other spots where speed is an issue and work on solutions to induce caution.