DETROIT – The Oakman Boulevard Community Association residents on Detroit’s east side are raising their voices about increasing speeding concerns in their neighborhood.
The once peaceful streets are now becoming popular for speeding cars and vehicles engaging in stunts, like donuts, at the intersection near Dexter Avenue.
“We’ve had so many accidents at that intersection,” one man said.
Neighbors said the amount of speeding and reckless driving along Oakman Boulevard is a nuisance.
They are concerned about the safety of children and seniors. Neighbors said there have been several vehicle crashes.
Cars have hit homes. Some residents say utility poles have also been damaged due to speeding drivers.
“Last week, when I drove through this block, two Dodge Challengers flew by me at better than 100 miles an hour,” longtime neighbor Charles Smith recalled.
The surge in traffic has prompted residents to call for action.
Neighbors said they have reached out to the city council and police, urging them to find solutions to the growing problem.
“The cars, they went around me on both sides, through the stop sign. Through the next stop sign. I don’t know if the traffic light was red or green, but they kept on going at amazingly high speeds,” said Mr. Philpot. “I’m thankful to the Lord that I’m here to say that to you today.”
Some of the neighbors said they would like to see the city of Detroit add speed humps to help reduce the problem.
“I think that they could put speed humps at the light where fire trucks could go around,” said Beverly Smith. “It’s about quality of life and the safety of our community.”
Staff with District 2 City Council Member Angela Whitfield Calloway’s office confirmed she and her Community Relations team toured Oakman Boulevard with residents in October 2023.
In a statement, Calloway’s office said, “In November 2023, the then Deputy Director of Complete Streets, under the Mayor’s Office, informed us that Oakman Boulevard does not currently qualify for the resident speed hump program. As a minor arterial road, with traffic volumes ranging from 500-3,100 vehicles per day depending on the segment, speed humps were not recommended as the most effective traffic calming solution.”
A representative with the Detroit Police Department said officers patrol the area regularly.
However, residents say they would like to see more action.
They believe if issues like speeding and reckless driving continue, someone will likely get seriously hurt or worse.
“We want a safe, beautiful, quality of life in this area,” Beverly Smith said.