Emily Tumlin
Guest writer
It’s almost impossible these days to drive across campus without having to hit the brakes before going over countless speed bumps. One can’t help but notice that new speed bumps were added to not only the S curve, but that a second set was also added to the front gate.
Needless to say, many students have been questioning why such additions were added to the already existing number of speed bumps that have been at Shorter in the past.
To these questions Paula Penson, director of campus safety, explained that Shorter has had numerous wrecks on campus this semester, especially in the S curve due to students driving too fast.
“Two students flipped their vehicle over and off the embankment while coming down the S curve, all in the same area,” said Penson.
However, she was happy to report that no serious personal injuries occurred.
Regarding the other set that was added behind the already present speed bumps at the front gate entrance, Penson said that something needed to be done to prevent people from driving so fast through the gate-house entrance.
Penson said students are speeding through the gate and “putting my officers in harm’s way of being struck and injured by a vehicle and knocking off both gate arms, causing extra expense to Shorter.”
The good news is that since the new speed bumps have been added, there haven’t been any accidents on the S curve.
Also, according to campus safety, vehicle traffic on campus has slowed down tremendously. But students have generally not been enthusiastic about the speed bumps. For example, junior early childhood education major Darci Brandon commented that she does not like the speed bumps.
“I feel like when I go over the [speed bumps] I bottom out and am going to drop my transmission,” said Brandon.
But while the speed bumps may force students to slow it down even when they are going to be late to class and possibly, as senior middle grades education major Savanna Rhinehart explains, “cause me to spill my coffee all over my car every morning,” the much bigger picture is that the extra speed bumps were added with the safety concern of the faculty, staff and students.
Penson concluded that the speed bumps on campus are necessary.
“The speed bumps are a vital tool and asset to help enhance safety on campus.”
