Can New Speed Signs Slow Welches Road? Residents Aren’t Sure

By Justin Andress, The Mountain Times

Residents of the Mt. Hood Villages know that reckless driving is part and parcel of life on the mountain. Hopefully, that’s beginning to change, as local law enforcement takes steps to regulate local drivers.

New 25-mile-per-hour speed limit signs have appeared along Welches Road. The move has drawn a mixed response from drivers. While the general public supports these measures, there is doubt as to whether they’ll be effective.

Welches Road may appear inconspicuous to visitors, but it’s something of a main thoroughfare in the Welches area. It runs perpendicular to Highway 26 and boasts quick access to the Thriftway, a great Indian food place, a mouthwatering bakery, the liquor store, the post office, the library, several small businesses, and the last gas station before you cross over Mt. Hood. Plus, a little farther off Highway 26, the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort takes up prominent spots on both sides of Welches Road.

In other words, Welches Road sees a lot of traffic, and speeders and reckless drivers are a consistent topic of discussion on local social media. Reports of crashes occur regularly, as do complaints about aggressive drivers who flaunt the rules of the road as they cruise through the area.

Not long after the signs appeared, one local took to Nextdoor to applaud the move. In the same breath, however, he expressed concern about whether these new speed limit signs would actually change what many consider to be a dangerous situation.

That concern may be warranted. Several law enforcement agencies report that signs alone do little to impact driver speed. The Federal Highway Administration also says that drivers tend to choose their speed based on a variety of factors outside the posted speed limit. Things like weather, time of day, and road conditions all play into a driver’s speed choice.

There’s another issue plaguing residents: they’re wondering whether local law enforcement can handle enforcing these new speed limits. Traffic is a regional concern stretching from Mt. Hood down to the Portland metro area. Portland remains one of only four among America’s 50 largest cities without a dedicated traffic enforcement team.

Outside of Portland, the Clackamas County Police Department is facing possible budgetary shortfalls. At the moment, the department is operating with help from a tax levy set to expire at the end of this year. Should that happen, the Clackamas County Police Department would be forced to cut 37% of its staff. To combat that threat, officials have introduced a new levy that would not only allow them to keep their existing staff but add 11 more officers.

In the meantime, though, Welches residents remain skeptical about the positive impact these new signs will have on those speeding down Welches Road.