La Plata, MD – While many county residents announced they were in favor of a new road ordinance to place traffic calming devices throughout neighborhoods in Charles County, the one voice opposed to the measure being discussed at a public hearing before the county commissioners Tuesday, April 7, was the one that may echo loudest.

The amendment would require speed bumps throughout neighborhoods where speeders routinely ignore posted limits.

Dan Stevens, speaking for volunteer fire departments and emergency medical personnel, stated that fire and EMS services in the county oppose the proposal.

“There are three reasons why fire and EMS oppose speed bumps,” Stevens told the board. “Equipment, personnel and customers.

“The damage can be extensive,” he said.

He reported that in one instance, a pumper went over a speed bump and lost its hose, resulting in the unit being unable to battle a fire because a crucial piece of equipment was missing.

He added that emergency medical technicians doing patient care in the back of an ambulance are also put at risk by such devices.

“Most injuries are compressed spine and head injuries,” he said.

Stevens added that delay in reaching a person due to speed controlling devices can impact the ability of rescuers to reach the patient.

“One minute can mean the difference between life and death,” he added. “Before you make a decision on this, I would ask you to talk to a firefighter or EMT who had a baby die because they’re a minute late getting there.”

He added that jurisdictions in California have turned to law enforcement instead of speed bumps in order to slow traffic.

“We’re concerned about speeding,” he added. “We’re the ones who go there and pick these people up and try to patch them up.

“I would just ask you to look at these things real close,” he concluded.

Other voices were all for the devices.

Pamela Vale, who said she works for Children’s Aid at Huntington Circle in Waldorf was specifically asking for a speed bump at the site.

“We’ve had too many people almost hit,” she said. “We need to slow everyone down.

“I almost got hit twice,” Vale added. “We have people who come to our facility, families with children. Sometimes they have to park out on the street. We have had too many close calls. We are hoping we could get something installed.”

Randy Maston said he lives in a neighborhood with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour.

“There has been a speeding problem since I moved there,” he said.

Police have conducted radar on the street and in one afternoon wrote 20 tickets in an hour.

“Speed bumps seem to be the only thing that slow people down,” he added. “Four people have been killed on our street and three cars have been destroyed by people driving too fast. One guy lost two of his cars. We need to do something before somebody else gets killed there.”

Veronica Bediant of the Lancaster Neighborhood Association said she has been coming to county commissioner meetings for four years asking for traffic calming devices.

“Even with the 25 mph speed limit, they disregard that and speed,” she said. “Even if we put up signs, people just don’t pay attention.”

Joseph Lawman of Cobb Island said their speed limit is 15, which people religiously ignore.

“In front of my house the speed limit is 15,” he said. “Right across the street from me is a park. Children walk to the park. The road is shaped like a ‘Y’ and goes to the left and down the hill. I’ve lived there my whole life, two doors down from where my parents still live. People run the stop sign and go way over the speed limit. It’s just been a chronic problem.”

Commissioner Debra Davis asked to keep the record open for 15 days for comment before the county makes a decision whether or not to approve the amendment.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com