To the editor:

Dear Tiverton neighbors and visitors,

Can you please join me in asking drivers to obey speed limits and kindly share the road?  Each day when I walk on my road I encounter a majority of drivers who speed at 10 and 20 mph over the posted 25 mph limit. 

My rural road is narrow, with two significant curves, that is cause for caution when two cars (and certainly pickup trucks) pass each other at once.  Add a walker, biker and dogs to the road and it becomes genuinely unsafe with speeders.

When I have signaled to 'please slow down' I have been intimidated with the driver increasing speed or mocking me, including with profanity.  And, yes, even when I'm walking with my one-month old granddaughter.

I am concerned for the safety of everyone who has the right to use this road.  As it may occur to readers, there are more walkers at various hours of the day and evening due to the confinements of the pandemic, increasing the need for all to be respectful of sharing the road. 

I have no problem as a walker trying to move off into the sloping shoulder of the road but that isn't always practical with overgrowth of weeds and poison ivy. 

What I ask of all of us is: 1) to pay attention to the speed limit while driving, especially on 'back roads' like mine, 2) be willing to share the road, and 3) be kind to those you encounter.

Although I also wish there were more posted speed limit signs on the road, or that the police could patrol and fine speeders, that really shouldn't be necessary.  I assume we all want to respect our neighborhoods and do our part; and I do my best to do so when driving outside of mine.

Sarah Libbey

Tiverton