What's the Rush, Oak Forest?

When it comes to residents' biggest concerns, Chief Greg Anderson knows one thing for certain: everyone thinks everyone else drives too fast. 

Our Facebook fans agree.

• Jim Zic: People go wayyy to fast down ridgeland the police should enforce the speed limit more
• Donna Vasquez: Speeding on Ridgeland is pretty bad. I was obeying the limit when some guy and his LExus passed me. Speed limit is 20!!
• Jamie Wolniakowski Lee: People have passed me too. It's ridiculous bc I have a three year old and a baby in the car and am obeying the 20 mph speed limit!
• John Barker: Ridgeland is ridiculous - especially south of 155th St. Forestview Drive west if the stop sign is horrible, too. Asked old and new Alderman about adding a stop sign between Pine and Oak Park Ave and I was told there are certain rests to see if a stop sign is warranted - and, apparently, it's not. Maybe it will take the "Dead Kid Test" before we get an extra stop sign to slow down traffic.
• Patty Tremmel Schuman: Add Menard to the list! Parents taking their kids to baseball at Convent park go about 40 down my street...they should know better! They have kids...
• Scott Faletti: I lived on 157th Ridgeland for 10 years....We moved 4 blks east a few years ago because of that.. I see people blowing the stop sign & speeding all the time so I agree with your fans statement.

Many residents wish that Oak Forest police would more strictly enforce speed limits. Some worry a child or person will be hit by a careless, speeding driver. 

READ:

• Sarah Burke Novoa: Don't forget Forestview dr. Excessive speeding and blowing the 3 way stop signs at Forestview, Arroyo and Alameda. Have called the OFPD about this a number of times in the past 23 years of living here and they don't do anything about. Would be nice to see more police officers in this area!!
• Jamie Wolniakowski Lee: Haven't done anything when I have called either. It's very frustrating and upsetting bc I constantly fear someone is going to hit my kids or someone else's
• Sarah Burke Novoa: That's my worry too. My kids play out there, along with other kids in the area. We live right in front of those stop signs. I fear that something horrible has to happen before the OFPD even start to care.

But it's not as simple as putting extra officers on patrol, Anderson said. And it's not as clear as people thinking they spot speeding, and the driver actually exceeding the speed limit.

"A lot of it is in perception," Anderson said—someone appears to be going fast, but they're close to the limit, or just a few miles per hour over. 

While officers do cite some drivers for exceeding the speed limit, they are less inclined to do so for drivers going just a few miles over. 

"The courts generally frown on officers writing tickets for 5 to 7 miles over the speed limit in neighborhoods," he said, partly because a high number of traffic tickets can back up the system, but also because of the people involved. "They feel we need to provide some leeway for people who might not be paying attention." 

Often, it's a resident of the neighborhood just trying to get home, Anderson said. Residents also need to note time of day, if they notice speeding in their neighborhood. Providing officers with a time frame makes it easier for them to patrol specific areas. 

"We do issue tickets, but we also don't want to come across as heavy-handed," he added.

"We don't have the resources to have officers on every street."

Anderson is considering loaning radar guns to residents, which would allow them a chance to observe drivers in their area and accurately relay speed information to police. Residents who believe they spot speeding should first note the time, then call the non-emergency number, at (708)687-1376.

"Speeding is the number 1 quality of life issues for residents, no matter where you are," Anderson said. 

Which streets concern you? Where do drivers coast above the speed limit? Tell us in the comments and take our poll!