|Anne Maurice|
It’s hard to believe August is here and, while lots of folks have been outside walking and biking this summer, the traffic continues to go fast and pedestrian accidents have been all too frequent around the state. An August 3, 2023 Maine Public Radio headline reads “Three pedestrians in southern Maine were killed in crashes Wednesday.” The accidents occurred in Sanford and Saco, but it could be in our town.
A ‘Building Livability in New Gloucester’ (BLING) sub-group has continued its work over the summer. We monitored traffic speeds at several NG locations. We placed ‘SLOW ME DOWN’ signs around Town. Walkers are using orange flags to be more visible to drivers.
Our next effort is a Pace Car Program which will be introduced at the NG Community Fair on August 19. We are looking for drivers to participate by pledging to drive the speed limit, to share the road courteously with others, and to not text and drive. We invite you to stop at the BLING booth at the Fair to find out more about the program and to sign the Pace Car pledge.
Why are we so concerned with the traffic situation in NG? Going back to the BLING survey results from the summer of 2022, over 80% of the respondents said they wanted to be safe walking, running and bicycling on our roads. We can all do our part by driving with care and being very visible when not in a motorized vehicle on the road.
I look forward to seeing you at the Fair.
Anne Maurice
