Pet killed on Oakwood Hills Dr. by Speeding Driver
Yesterday, June 21st 2010 my dog was struck and killed by a speeding auto on Oakwood Hills Dr. I am ultimately responsible as my dog was not on a leash. While I don't have any ill feelings towards the gentleman who struck my dog, bottom line he was speeding and doing so way over the limit despite his own testimony to the opposite. I have lived in this neighborhood for 17 years and speeding has been problematic always. In fact I am watching cars racing down Oakwood Hills as I write this. Most speeders don't even realize they are going fast. Being used to driving 65 MPH on Peachtree Industrial and 50 MPH on Suwanee Dam I can understand why.
The average stopping distance for a auto traveling at 25 MPH is about 30 feet given good reflexes. The same car at 30 MPH is almost 45 feet. At 35 MPH it is over 60 feet, twice that of 25 MPH, our neighborhood speed limit. At 20 MPH the stopping distance is about 15 feet which under most any circumstance is enough time to stop.
Over the years I have stopped many speeders, including a speeder yesterday after my dog was struck. The argument is always "I was only going 30 or 35 MPH". This small "perceived" difference is the difference between life or death for a child or animal entering the road. In reality many speeders in our neighborhood are driving 45+ MPH (I have clocked) and often times on the cell phone which exaggerates the stopping distances considerably. A few years back I even watched a teen loose control of his car at the bottom of the hill on Oakwoods Hill, destroying the front end of his parent Station Wagon. Honestly I am surprised this does not happen more often.
I offer this challenge to everyone reading this: Try consciously driving between 20-25 MPH next time you come down our road. You will notice quickly how "fast" you are going and also sense immediately how much more in control you would be should something jump in the road. Also next time you are driving without thinking too much, look down at your speedometer. My guess is you will be shocked.
For those of you who don't care I only pray to God for you, as one day you may be standing over a child wondering what happened and what you could have done different ... Frank Ditore
My heartfelt sympathy go out to my long time neighbors the Ditore’s in the loss of their beloved pet, Hershey. Like the Ditore’s we have lived in this neighborhood for over 20 years and have seen firsthand the problem with the speeding.
During this time I have personally experienced almost being run over when I was strolling one of my babies, having to jump out of the way when walking my dog and one of the worst almost having my young son run over by a careless neighbor not paying attention and speeding past a stopped school bus unloading young children on Oakwood Hills Dr.
Yes I am one of the neighbors that yell at you when you speed by my house, yes I am the one that backs out of my driveway so you will slow down when you top the hill on Oakwood Hills Dr.
All of us that love our children and pets should show some respect for our neighbors and drive the posted 25 mile per hour speed limit.
Deb Cofer
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Frank, Susan and family,
I am so sorry about your loss. I've seen you walking your dogs and I know you love them. I will make an effort to do the speed limit and I thank you for the reminder.
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Well said Frank, Having witnessed the traumatic loss of Hershey, my heart goes out to you with the lose of a family member.
Being a mother of toddlers whom I watch very carefully but can't help but wonder what would happen if they followed their ball or a butterfly into the street when my head was turned. Actually it happened last year ... fortunately she stayed at the road's edge as a car speed beside her. I can not put my children on leashes so I can only hope that we can learn from Hershey's loss and SLOW DOWN. Parents please relate to teens that are driving that the speed limit can be the difference between a small child's life and their own. Before having children of my own I did not realiZe the problem with speeding. And I am sure if I lived in the back of the neighborhood I would zone out too and forget where I was driving... but please be mindful and SLOW DOWN.
sincerely,
christie white
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Frank, my sympathy on the loss of your dog Hershey. Frankly, in the 11 years we have lived in Royal Oaks speeding has been a chronic problem. I was a strong supporter of the proposed speed humps but they were defeated by a majority of residents. My 10 year old daughter often asks to walk our dog and I can tell you I am quite afraid to allow her to do so based on the speed of the typical auto through Royal Oaks. I certainly hope it doesn't take a serious injury or death of a human for this issue to be adequately addressed but I see the previously proposed speed humps as the only viable way to decrease the speed of traffice in our community.
Sincerely,
Brian Mulligan
22 Oakwood Hills Drive
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I saw the Blog from the owner of the dog Hershey that was run over.
I am the person that accidently ran over the dog after it ran across the street chasing a ball.
It was an accident and I WAS NOT SPEEDING! I stopped and talked to the owners. Do not make it sound like I did something wrong. A tennis ball was thrown across the street and the dog was chasing the ball.
I am very sorry it happened but do not make me the bad person.
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