One Maryland resident, unhappy with speeders in his neighborhood, built a “Little Free Library” that looked like a speed camera in an effort to try and slow drivers down, but authorities objected
July 23, 2023 at 10:05
McComas Avenue in Kensington, Maryland, is a fairly unassuming residential street, except for the fact that it connects two thoroughfares. That means that commuters frequently take to the road as a shortcut, and tend to drive down it quickly.
That has led many residents to notice a lot of dangerous driving outside their homes. Although there are plans in the works to add speed bumps and other traffic-calming measures in the future, those won’t be ready for years, leading someone to get creative.
In order to encourage commuters to slow down, one resident installed a “Little Free Library” on McComas Avenue, reports WUSA9. The fact that it’s filled with classic books like “New Driver’s Guide to Thing to Not Crash Into,” “How to Drive Safely: 49 Expert Tips, Tricks, and Advice for New, Teen Drivers,” and, of course, “The Original Roadkill Cookbook,” isn’t the only reason it might discourage speeding.
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The gray structure, made of plywood and plexiglass, bears a striking resemblance to speed cameras that have popped up elsewhere in Maryland. Any hope of plausible deniability for the creator of this “Little Free Library” was given up after they installed an official-looking sign above it reading “Traffic Laws Photo Enforced.”
That has led Montgomery County to get involved. They took down the signs, and said that the library couldn’t stay on the easement where it was placed, nor on a yard without a permit. Meanwhile, Montgomery County police said the location had not been approved “for a speed camera” even if it was fake.
While residents have complied with the ruling, they say they are disappointed by it. “I have no idea who put it there, but I thought it was hilarious,” said Matthew Fairbank, who lives on McComas Avenue.
He claims that his wife’s car has lost three mirrors and that neighbors’ cars have been hit by drivers speeding down the residential street. Since they’re commuting, many feel they can go 40 to 50 miles per hour (64-80 km/h) down the avenue.
Meanwhile, resident Jake Meer took to Nextdoor to say that he totally got why someone would do this: “People drive way too fast down McComas and it needs to be safer.” Unfortunately, for now, residents will simply have to wait until the county is ready to redesign their street.