AUGUSTA, Ga. – Concerns over speeding vehicles have prompted residents of Pepperidge Drive to take action, calling for speed humps to improve safety in their neighborhood.

According to longtime resident Carlton Bradley, speeding is a persistent issue, especially near a neighborhood stop sign. “I’ve seen several wrecks at that stop sign right there,” Bradley said. “And I’ve seen kids playing on their bikes and stuff—just speeding, speeding by.”

In an effort to curb the dangerous driving, residents launched a petition to have speed humps installed, similar to those in other Augusta neighborhoods. Previously, city policy required that 51 percent of property owners on the street sign such a petition. However, this created a significant barrier in neighborhoods like Pepperidge, where many homes are rented and landlords can be difficult to reach.

“There were several houses where there was no one there, and it was hard to find the owners,” Bradley noted.

Recognizing these challenges, Augusta commissioners recently voted to update the policy. Now, 51 percent of residents on a given street—regardless of whether they own or rent their home—can sign a petition to request traffic-calming measures.

“That should have been a no-brainer,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis. “Doing this process in the beginning with the previous policy, I think it benefits those who actually live on the street.”

Under the old rules, if a homeowner couldn’t be located, the property simply wasn’t counted for or against the petition. This often left community representatives struggling to determine ownership and gather enough valid signatures.

John Ussery, Augusta’s traffic engineer, believes the change will help streamline the process. “You had less signatures that you needed, but it was difficult for the community representatives that try to gather these signatures and try to figure out who is a property owner, who isn’t,” Ussery said. “So this should help them in this regard.”

Bradley echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the impact of speeding is felt equally by all residents. “The more people you can get to sign, whether it’s a renter or not, it’s still speeding,” he said. “It’s going to hit the speeder, whether that person is renting or that person is the actual property owner.”

With the new policy in place, neighborhoods like Pepperidge may find it easier to get approval for speed humps and other traffic safety measures—potentially leading to safer streets and a quicker response to community concerns.