20 M.P.H. May Backfire

East Hampton and Sag Harbor Villages want drivers to slow down, way down. In separate votes, elected officials in both jurisdictions recently decided to reduce the speed limit on a number of streets — to 20 miles per hour. Forget Sammy Hagar, who rode his hit “I Can’t Drive 55” to modest fame in the 1980s, the powers-that-be seem to think even 25 is too fast.

In Sag Harbor, it is easier to understand the lower speed limit, which was imposed last week on most of the streets in its historic district. That village’s narrow, doglegged streets often require drivers to proceed at a creep. But on Mill Hill Lane, one of the streets the East Hampton Village Board voted on Friday to change to 20 miles per hour, it simply does not make sense. Other streets on which the new turtle-speed rules will apply are King Street, McGuirk Street, Middle Lane, and Meadow Way.

Although villages have the authority to make these rules, it could be a mistake to do so. With so many visitors from away here in the warmer months, limits that defy familiar expectations could lead to tailgating and unsafe passing as out-of-town motorists whip around vehicles they think are moving at abnormally slow speeds. Just think about going 25 on Dunemere Lane in East Hampton Village in July as some hotshot in a $100,000 sport utility vehicle rides your rear bumper. Imagine how much road rage would be the result if the speed were lowered to 20! 

If speeding is a problem, more enforcement is the solution, not maddeningly low limits that will make scofflaws of even the most conscientious drivers