Chatham County commissioners vote to update speed ordinance

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - An alert for drivers in Chatham County— there’s about to be a crackdown on people speeding in several neighborhoods.

County commissioners voted Friday to update the county’s speed zone ordinance.

County officials say the speed zone ordinance has to be updated once or twice a year.

It’ll accommodate growth especially in areas where driver safety is becoming an issue.

“They drive pretty fast down through here,” said Gwarthney Harvey, Savannah resident.

It’s neighbors like Gwarthney Harvey that say cars can move fast down Chevis Road.

He’s lived in the area for about 30 years.

“Especially in this area, they need to slow down and watch out for kids,” said Harvey.

Several speed limit changes to this road and others approved by Chatham County commissioners Friday.

Parts of Chevis Road have gone from 40 miles per hour to 25 and 30 miles per hour.

It’s an update to the county’s speed zone ordinance.

“Typically it’s every 6-12 months,” said Nathaniel Panther.

Nathaniel Panther, assistant county engineer, says the county is working on a project on Chevis road that would add pedestrian facilities to the area.

While getting community feedback, neighbors asked for speed limits in the area to be reduced.

“We evaluated it and we saw the opportunity to actually reduce the speed limit in some of the more residential areas on portions of Chevis Road just to make it safer for the community,” said Panther.

Harvey told me he’s satisfied with the current speed limits.

He’s most looking forward to the enforcement.

Panther says getting the changes approved, will allow Chatham County police to issue tickets for speeders.

Along with Chevis Road areas on Whitemarsh Island will also see changes.