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.
Officials are sending out bid notices for the device to ensure there are enough funds in the budget for the purchase, a process that will take at least 60 days, said Peterson.
The electronic sign is the latest in a list of solutions proposed to stop speeding on Anderson Pike, one of the many places where officials have been trying to slow drivers down for years.
"Speeding in the town of Walden has always been a concern," Peterson said. "Not just there but in various places along the roadways."
In the past, officials discussed installing a stop sign and speed cushions on Anderson Pike, but neither solution was deemed effective, said Trohanis.
The stop sign's distance from the curve would have given drivers enough time to still accelerate to dangerous speeds, and if a speed cushion were installed on the side of the roadway heading down the mountain, the town would also have to install one on the side going up to prevent impatient drivers from swerving into the oncoming lane, more than defeating the safety measure's purpose, Trohanis said.
The radar speed signs, however, have been an effective tool for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, which has placed the devices in areas with multiple accidents or complaints.
"They are a good tool to put in sporadically that will help us decrease speeding in an area while they're there," said Matt Lea, public information officer for the sheriff's office. "They work best when they're moved around consistently so that people are made more aware of their surroundings."
Walden officials hope the sign's instant feedback will raise overall awareness of speed and remind those on the road to keep an eye on the odometer.
"The final decision is up to the driver," Peterson said. "Hopefully, they'll slow down. That'll be the best response they could have."
Email Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com.