Saugus street plagued by speed demons

SAUGUS – Driving up Fairmont Avenue from Boston Street, it’s hard to imagine speeding being a problem along the narrow and windy road. But once past the more wooded areas of the street where Fairmont opens up, that’s where neighbors Michelle Dean and Donna Sandford say drivers “fly.””Our kids are all about nine years old and they can’t cross the street around here,” said Dean. “It’s very dangerous and something is going to happen. They’re flying down here.”Both Dean and Sandford have been living on Fairmont for around 10 years and said now that their kids are getting older, the speeding problem is becoming more of a danger, especially since there are no sidewalks in the area.”Now we’re just starting to see each other as neighbors,” said Sandford. “The children are growing, they’re coming out and playing and these cars ? this is a serious issue. This is not a couple of mothers coming together and exaggerating our need for safety. I just wish someone would pay attention to us.”Fortunately for residents, Saugus Police Lt. Ronald Giorgetti said the department is already on top of the problem.”We have units that are up in that area,” said Giorgetti. “Lt. LoPresti handles the traffic and the complaints and he’s already directed the officers and the traffic car to spend time in the area. We are aware of it and we are addressing it.”Giorgetti said police cars have been on radar duty in the area and a portable speed limit sign that tracks drivers’ speed is also being used.”I would think it brings attention to people on that road what the speed limit is,” said Giorgetti. “If they’re accustomed to traveling that road frequently it might bring attention to their travel and their operation and whether it’s conforming to the posted speed limit.”But while the radar sign may slow down approaching drivers, Dean said once people pass it they go back to speeding.”To me, if someone sees the speed sign and slows down for it, they just pick up where they left off,” said Dean.Sandford and Dean said neighbors are thankful that Saugus Police are trying to crack down, but they’re still looking to take matters into their own hands. Dean said she bought “slow down” signs from Toys “R” Us to post outside her home and has been in touch with other neighbors to post more signs along Fairmont.”I spoke to a few of my neighbors today and we’re all willing to get together to talk about the speeding on the street,” said Dean. “The neighbors want to make signs to put on the poles themselves, made by their children saying, ‘Please slow down. Children live here.'”Sandford, who wakes up every morning around 7 a.m. to walk her Maltese, said she witnessed a neighborhood dog struck by a speeding car over the summer and said the driver “just left it there.” Sandford said incidents like that are why neighbors refuse to let their children cross Fairmont alone.”It’s unfortunate,” said Sandford. “The children live across the street from each other, and each parent has to walk across this little street and stop traffic. Our children are not allowed to cross. It’s just pathetic.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattTempesta.