Wildwood commissioners hope speed humps will discourage speeders on Jackson Street near the city’s downtown area.
Residents have complained about speeding and late night loud music on the residential street.
The commission voted Monday night to install a half dozen speed humps at a cost of $11,460.
Speed humps are wider than speed bumps and are designed to slow faster-moving traffic.
Police have tried to issue tickets to the speeders, but the speeders often make a game of trying to flee.
Public Works Director Gene Kornegay said the six humps will be installed at 250-foot intervals on the street.
While effective at slowing traffic, they also slow down emergency vehicles, he said.
A study by the Institute of Traffic Engineers found that a speed hump slows ambulances by 10 seconds. Six speed humps would cause a minute delay.
“People need to be aware that it will slow down emergency vehicles,” said Commissioner Pamala Harrison-Bivens.
Harrison-Bivens, who said she also has received speeding complaints from residents of York Street, made the motion to install the speed humps. York Street has no sidewalks and children walk in the street.
Mayor Ed Wolf said the city must find a wind to slow down the speeders before a serious accident occurs.
“I don’t know that this is the answer, but we’ve got a problem,” he said. “They’re trying to outrun us and we can’t catch them. They’re going to hurt somebody.”
