LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) – City leaders are slowing things down in Long Beach.<\/p>\n
The Board of Aldermen voted to bring the speed limit on Jeff Davis Avenue from 25 to 15 miles per hour. <\/p>\n
Mayor Tim Pierce said he came up with the idea on his daily commute, where he turns onto Jeff Davis Ave from Second Street. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt really is hard when you come up to that stop sign, you look to the south, and there are cars in here,\u201d said Mayor Pierce. \u201dYou can\u2019t see until you\u2019re out in the road.\u201d <\/p>\n
While there is a concern for drivers, Mayor Pierce said the biggest concern is pedestrians. <\/p>\n
With the town green and multiple businesses along Jeff Davis Ave, the road is a hotbed for foot traffic. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are constant people coming back and forth across the road,\u201d said Mayor Pierce. \u201dOf course, you would hope that they would all use crosswalks, but I don\u2019t want to take a chance in that. I\u2019d rather slow it down and ensure that it\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Josh Douce, owner of Beach City Carts in Long Beach, said many families travel downtown in golf carts, and lowering the speed limit could make things safer for cart users as well. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a great idea, because, you know, we see people riding golf carts with the family and kids and dogs,\u201d said Doucet. \u201dI think it\u2019s more safe as long as everybody follows the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though it\u2019s a ten-mile-per-hour change, Mayor Pierce says it\u2019s a must for the city. <\/p>\n
\u201cI took a couple of test drives, and it\u2019s not that big of a difference, but it could make a big difference in a split second when you are pulling out and have to stop,\u201d said Mayor Pierce.<\/p>\n
The speed limit will be changed on December 22. <\/p>\n
The Board of Aldermen also discussed a speed limit change along Railroad Street at its last meeting. <\/p>\n
Mayor Pierce said he wants a recommendation from law enforcement before making a change. <\/p>\n