First Selectman Has Harsh Words For Speeding Canton Motorists

CANTON, CT — Canton First Selectman Bob Bessel is like many law-abiding motorists — he doesn't know why folks continue to speed, jeopardizing their safety and the safety of others.

That was clear in a message Bessel unveiled Thursday via social media.

He was updating the community on the town's "Stop Speeders" program, aimed at increasing speed enforcement efforts and, simply, cut down on hazardous drivers.

Bessel said the town still has "a long way to go."

According to Bessel's best estimates, about "half of the traffic" on local roads obey speed limits.

The other half?

In Bessel's words, they treat "speed limits as suggestions. Some even accelerate."

He said the Canton Board of Selectmen allocated $20,000 last fiscal year and $30,000 this year for additional speed enforcement patrols.

Then, he said, selectmen allocated another $30,000 to install speed tables on Case Street.

And, he said Canton schools "just spent $18,000 for video cameras to document vehicles that pass stopped school buses.

"This week, the State of Connecticut deployed 15 traffic engineers to design more effective traffic calming measures for Bridge Street, Maple Avenue and Dowd," wrote Bessel.

According to Bessel, spending taxpayer cash on speed and traffic calming measures is not money well spent.

"Instead, we are trying to stop an epidemic of aggressive driving. Let’s face it," Bessel said. "Speeding and aggressive driving are personal decisions that can have staggering consequences. If you’re still speeding, I have one question for you: Why?"

To read the full message, click on this link.