I recently asked our president why we could not install "speed bumps" on Countryside Drive in order to help enforce our 25mph speed limit as so many other gated communities do. His answer was "They wouldn't let us". He would not say who "they" were. I assume he meant all the condominium owners who do not live along Countryside Drive.

We did make a feeble attempt to approach this problem recently by borrowing a speed device and installing it along the Southern end of Countryside Drive. The worst offenders are traveling at measured speeds of over 40mph between the two stop signs.

The worst offenders are trucks who are on tight delivery schedules such as Fedex and UPS. However, there are many more including the school bus and many, many Countryside residents. The penalty for vehicular manslaughter in Florida is 3 - 5 years in prison. A wrongful death suit could reach millions. All it will take is one vehicle striking someone backing out of their driveway to result in such a scenario.

During the "season" I have regularly counted 60 vehicular movements per hour (that is one per second) along the stretch of Countryside upon which I live. If the board could be convinced of the necessity for this installation, I personally would be willing to incur the expense of placing two speed bumps between the two stop signs at approximately equal distances (one third and two thirds of the distance).

I would appreciate any comments from other Countryside Drive residents.

kRon Farnsworth
465 Countryside Drive