Raleigh city leaders reduce speed limits on over 100 streets in 2021

Most announced on Monday will drop from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour, bringing the total number of roads with reduced speed limits to more than 100 this year alone.

The reason? Safety.

The odds of surviving being hit by a car dramatically decrease as the speed limit increases.

If someone is hit by a car going 20 miles per hour there is a 90% chance of surviving, a 60% chance at 30 miles and a 20% chance at 40 miles.

"It’s like a freeway from Fairview to Whitaker Mill," said Velma Crawford.

But it’s not a freeway, it’s a group of residential roads. Roads that Crawford said are abused every day.

"No limit. I mean we are talking 40 to 50 miles per hour," said Crawford. "I mean, it’s just terrible."

Councilman David Knight knows that all too well. Knight oversees that area and has witnessed the many crashes in his district.

"There’s been a lot of accidents, a lot of crashes, a lot of wrecks near Five Points due to high speed," said Knight.

Most recently, eight streets had the speed limit cut. Most of the streets were reduced to 25 miles per hour, while one, Lake Dam Road, was reduced to 30 miles per hour.

In total, 128 streets have had speed limits reduced in 2021.

"Public safety is priority number one and this is a good way to improve public safety," said Knight.

But Five Points resident Bill Ziegler said this isn’t the answer.

"You could post a 10 miles per hour speed limit and I don’t think it would make much difference," said Ziegler.

Ziegler said he thinks more roads need to be built to divert traffic out of residential areas. He said speed bumps also make some difference.

Speeding is also a focus for the Raleigh Police Department. They’ve upped their ticketing when it comes to speeding.