Oak Lawn residents raised concerns Tuesday about speeding and other traffic offenses they believe are creating safety concerns.
Resident Walter Dunnet requested a four-way stop at 88th and Wakefield, saying he’s noticed an increase in scofflaw drivers who do not stop for stop signs.
“These guys are flying,” Dunnet said. “Some of my neighbors don’t even stop.”
More Top Picks Best E Readers For Visually Impaired Readers
He said trees block existing signs and some of the streetlights in his neighborhood have been out for a while.
Resident Craig Atkins said “hot rodders” ignore visible stop signs.
“You can plant stop signs everywhere, but these kids they just go through stop signs,” Atkins said.
He said he feared a reckless driver would end up crashing into a home.
“God forbid one of these characters goes through there,” Atkins said.
Atkins said speeders are frequent and they disturb residents inside their homes by the noise alone.
“In our area we need some help. I don’t know if you need to put up some stop signs. I don’t know, but it’s unnerving,” he said.
Village manager Thomas Phelan said he believes the speeders and people who disregard stop signs and other public safety measures generally don’t respect authority.
“The answer is our society, and the general disdain that we’re allowing people to have toward our police officers,” he said. “People don’t respect authority and we have elected officials who don’t want to hold people accountable.”
He said he hopes the board and residents will support the police.
“They can’t be an army on their own, we must support them,” Phelan said.
Village President Terry Vorderer said it could be that people are simply distracted while driving.
“Maybe they’re busy,” he said. “Maybe their minds are in another place.”
Vorderer also said residents should bring specific concerns to the trustee representing their area.
“As to the trees, we have a policy in place where everyone gets their trees trimmed every five years,” he said. “If you know where the lights are being blocked, we can get on that.”
He urged motorists to use caution.
“Just be aware of your neighborhood. Just drive safely,” he said.
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.