Although the officers on the sections of the road marked with the sign "Residential Zone" usually record prohibited overtaking of cars, the residents are also disturbed by the drivers passing by at high speed and the noise they make. Traffic police representative Teisutis Beržinskas told LNK in more detail what rules apply in the residential area and what residents complain about.
- Reports and complaints have increased. What's happening? What traffic rules (KET) ignored by drivers?
- I would like to start with the fact that residents, in order to be safer in their living environment, apply to the municipal authority to issue permits to install "Residential Zone" road signs, hoping that drivers will follow the rules and this will protect them from accidents. Currently, there is certainly a large number of residents who apply and want those signs, but when the signs are installed, there are automatically responsibilities for drivers. There are four points that drivers should know and follow. We often get questions about what speed is allowed in a residential area, often drivers mix 20 or 30 km/h. The maximum permitted speed is 20 km/h. It is also forbidden to store the vehicle with the ignition on, you can store it for as long as you need to clean the windows. It is forbidden to park heavy vehicles and buses, which drivers often do not know and ignore. And a very recent requirement is that overtaking is prohibited in the residential area. We record this violation most often and the fine is really considerable - from 170 to 230 euros. Drivers are very surprised to learn that they can be fined for this. I would also like to remind you that in the residential area pedestrians and cyclists have priority, they must not obstruct vehicles, but they have priority over vehicles.
- You said that violations are increasing, residents are complaining. What is that increase? What kinds of violations do residents usually notice?
- Residents ask to measure the speed, so that we come and carry out targeted measures with speed meters, to observe. It also sends footage, unfortunately you won't be able to estimate the speed from the footage. The increase in reports is noticeable with good weather, people probably spend more time cleaning the environment, open windows, we receive a lot of reports about noise from residential areas.
– You mentioned preventive measures, but do you take any additional ones? Maybe if there are constant violations, special roller coasters appear or we can see the tripod speedometer more often?
- Yes you are right. We also apply to the municipality regarding infrastructure changes, to the Traffic Safety Commission. Only residential areas are densely populated, a roller coaster, as you have named it, or a plateau, is not a solution, as there is noise, smoke, vibrations, and they are not recommended near residential houses. [...] Regarding speed measuring devices - yes, we use them and we are quite actively asked for it, so we actively carry out that control.
Interviewed residents said that they have noticed changes, but it is not only cars that give them peace: "A lot of things slow down, because a lot of people have been punished here, many people already know that", "It happens anyway. Often slows down. Sometimes they pass a little faster", "The bigger problem is with cyclists. Pedestrians and cyclists ride along this track, so they should be feared. Every cyclist has a bell but never rings it. You walk with your back turned, they pass you from behind at full speed."
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