One of the tools the City uses to educate drivers about speeding is the Neighborhood Speed Watch Program. Since Spring 1992, this program has been getting residents directly involved in solving speeding problems in their own neighborhoods. With guidance from the Madison Transportation Department and support from the Police Department, city residents set up and monitor speed display boards on selected neighborhood streets. The boards display the street speed limit as well as the actual travel speed of passing cars.
Motorists usually slow down if they see that they are going faster than the speed limit.
In some cases, police officers near the monitoring site will issue tickets to speeding motorists. After being exposed to the display boards, motorists are more likely to voluntarily comply with the speed limit. City residents who think there is a speeding problem in their neighborhood can request to borrow the speed display board. Before equip ment is loaned out, at least three to six volun teers must be available to staff the equipment so that the board can be utilized several times over a week-long period. The Division schedules projects on a first come first-served basis.