Speed limits and speeding

Speeding in neighborhoods is one of the top complaints we get. People often speed on familiar roads.

Research shows that drivers base their speed on how a street feels, not just on the posted limit.

That means simply lowering the speed limit rarely changes how fast people drive.

By California law, the speed limit on local residential streets is 25 mph. Speed limits on other streets must be set based on engineering studies that look at:

• Road design and conditions
• Crash history
• The speeds most drivers already travel

Setting a speed limit that’s too low can cause problems:

• It turns regular drivers into “speeders.”
• It’s harder for police to enforce, and tickets may not hold up in court.

Stop signs can improve safety when used in the right places. But when installed where they aren’t needed, they can actually make things worse.

Stop signs are only added after studying:

• Traffic speed and volume
• How many people walk, bike, or drive there
• Visibility and sight distance
• How often there are safe gaps for crossing

When stop signs are installed where they don’t meet these standards, drivers often ignore them. That can put pedestrians and other drivers at greater risk.
In some cases, drivers speed up after the stop sign to “make up time,” increasing noise, pollution, and safety risks.

Speed humps are raised areas across the street that slow down cars.

They are different from speed bumps — humps are longer and smoother and used on public streets, while bumps are shorter and used in parking lots.

Speed humps can reduce speeding, but they also have drawbacks:

• More noise from braking and accelerating
• Slower emergency response times
• Drivers may take other streets to avoid them
• Signs and markings can change the neighborhood’s look
• Some drivers swerve or drive on shoulders to avoid them
• Can cause tension among neighbors if everyone doesn’t agree
• Risk of vehicle damage if hit too fast
• May lower nearby property values

It might seem that “Children at Play” signs make neighborhoods safer, but studies show they don’t reduce speeding or crashes.

These signs can:

• Give a false sense of security to parents and kids
• Encourage unsafe play in the street
• Add to sign clutter and make drivers tune out

Because of these concerns, they are no longer approved for use on public streets. Instead, the City installs effective signs like school zone or crosswalk warnings in the right locations.