Heavy police presence in Fort Wright aims to curb unsafe driving

The University of Cincinnati's John Ash spoke with Link NKY about reckless driving in residential suburban areas in light of Fort Wright, Kentucky officials announcing an increased police presence on Amsterdam Road.

A Jan. 22 press release from the city said the increased patrols on Amsterdam Road around its intersections at Morris and Redwood are due to the "rising number of traffic violations routinely occurring in this area."

Ash, PhD, said some people drive recklessly on low-trafficked residential roads for the expected reasons.

"“[There’s the] convenience/desire to avoid traffic, frustration, and habits, [ . . . ] depending on the person,” said Ash, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Suburban residential roads may also play a role in the reckless behavior, he said.

"...It depends on the situation,” Ash said. “Wider lanes/roadway areas can encourage drivers to drive faster. Lack of [bike lanes and/or sidewalks] may also mean that such users feel less comfortable traveling along a given roadway. Drivers may then get used to not seeing these users and become less cautious.”

Read the Link NKY article.

Featured photo at top of a police car on a residential street. Photo/Hal Bergman/UC Marketing + Brand.