HURLOCK, Md. - One town in Dorchester County is working to slow drivers down — but how slow is too slow?
The Hurlock Police Department says one stretch of road has become dangerous, prompting officials to cut the speed limit in half. On Poplar Street in downtown Hurlock, drivers are now being forced to hit the brakes.
“A lot of the citizens that go to the drug store, for instance, are elderly or have kids willing to go in. And it’s just a high risk. It’s kind of like you’re dodging cars because it’s a very busy street,” said Chief Bruce Jones of the Hurlock Police Department.
From Main Street to Elm Street, drivers will now need to obey a newly implemented 15 mph speed limit. From Elm Street to Delaware Avenue, the limit rises slightly to 25 mph.
Charles Elbert, who lives at the corner of Poplar and Elm, supports the change.
“I don’t think it should be any faster because a lot of times people come down here, and I know they’re over 30 miles an hour,” said Elbert.
However, local business owner Rodney Neal believes 15 mph may be too low.
“Actually, I think 15 is really too low. I think 25 is sufficient,” said Neal, owner of Upper Level Barbershop.
Still, Neal has witnessed the dangers along that stretch.
“A lot of times I have to yell to certain traffic telling them, ‘Hey, hold on,’ just so people don’t hit each other. I’ve seen actually two accidents on this street,” said Neal.
Jones said the area has posed safety issues for years, and this move is meant to prevent future accidents.
“The rule of thumb is people are going exceed the speed limit by about five miles per hour. So hopefully we slow them down,” said Jones.
The Hurlock Police Department said the new speed limit signs were posted Monday.