Poulan speed limit increased

POULAN — Motorists traveling along U.S. Highway 82 through Poulan, which has had a reputation with area residents as something of a speed trap, are finding the travel through the small Worth County community quicker these days.

The 45 mph speed limit signs are gone and drivers can now on U.S. 82 through town at 55 mph.

Van Mason, district traffic engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation, said the department removed the lower speed limit signs Tuesday.

“We had some complaints about the speed,” he said of why the department decided to raise the speed limit. “We performed a speed study to judge the maximum speed that motorists could safely drive on

the road.”

Mason said the speed study looked at factors such as topography of the land, curvature of the road, number of previous accidents that occurred on the road, number of homes and businesses, and the speed that was being adhered to by drivers.

“Most of the drivers were operating at a higher speed comfortably,” he said. “The highway was designed for higher speeds, so it was raised.”

Tommy Coleman, Poulan city attorney, said the city received notice of the speed limit change months ago from DOT.

“The city didn’t want to do it,” he said. “They thought it was dangerous.”

Coleman said that speed limit enforcement was a “significant source of revenue” to the city and that officers will enforce the higher speed limit.

The attorney remarked the topic of the speed limit was a popular one for citizens of Poulan.

“I think what people are concerned about is that the signs are in a sort of valley and you could not see them until you were right on them,” he said. “It is sort of a shock. All of a sudden, you are required to slow down.”

Coleman said he has not heard any concerns about the new speed limit from the City Council or the residents of Poulan.

Mason said the important thing for DOT is keeping the state’s roads and highways as safe as possible.

“We want our roads to be safe,” he said. “We investigate any concerns from motorists, but we also think of safety first.”