Prevent Road Rage
San Mateo Park has unique characteristics that make it a great place to live. It also has unique road conditions that require special care. We got some tips from the San Mateo Police Department Traffic Sergeant Barbara Hammerman. She offered her phone number (522-7743) if anyone had additional questions or recommendations for additional signage.
Island Roundabouts
The prevailing rule in traffic intersections is that it is the responsibility of both drivers to prevent an accident and to drive in a safe manner. When approaching an island, first, slow down to see traffic from the crossing directions. Islands are to be treated as 4-way intersections; that is, the first car to the intersection has the right-of-way. If two cars arrive simultaneously, a driver should yield to the car on the right. That means that if you are in the circle, you proceed if you arrive first at each of the intersections of the circle, but yield if you arrive at the same time. There is no North/South, East/West, big car/small car rule: the first car to each intersection has the right of way. (And you can't cheat by speeding up to be first to the intersection. That's a violation of the prevailing rule on safe driving.)
Not all of our islands are marked "keep right". Some unmarked islands are obviously designed for traffic to keep to the right. There are some islands where you could pass the island on either side. Some of those paths are not large enough for two cars simultaneously, especially if there are parked cars nearby. Sergeant Hammerman recommends keeping to the right whenever in doubt, as that is the safest course.
Speed is also an ongoing issue in the neighborhood. Jogging, dog walking, baby strolling, bike riding: San Mateo Park is made for those activities. But these activities often extend into the street due to conditions of sidewalks, etc. So keep it slow throughout the Park. The police radar trailer was in the Park last Fall, and it will be brought back to the Park occasionally. Keeping the speed down is the key to minimizing traffic problems.
An eight-year-old might have written the following rap song to remind us of the rules:
Drive in the Park with a watchful eye.
Don’t go fast and pass me by.
Go thru the islands without much verve.
The right-of-way says, first come, first serve.
Some islands are close, so don't squeeze thru,
Unless the road is wide with a real clear view.
So take it easy in San Mateo Park
Especially if you're driving in the dark.
Drivers, Please slow down.
Several complaints have been made regarding people driving their cars too fast through the Park. This is a very dangerous situation. One of the pleasures of living in the Park is the fact that it is a pleasant place to take walks, enjoy the peaceful setting amongst the trees, and take refuge from the harried, fast-paced lives we all seem to lead. It makes it very dangerous, however, to take those walls, back out of one's driveway or let our children cross the street alone when people continue to speed through the neighborhood. Please let's all do our part by slowing down and make the park a safer place for everyone. Drivers, please slow down!