It came to light a few weeks ago. Hansville’s ongoing traffic enforcement problem that is. Residents are afraid to expand one of their most-used thoroughfares — Hood Canal Drive NE — out of fear that motorists will drive the route even faster than they already do.

The stretch is currently posted at an entirely unrealistic 25 mph and 35 mph and is more often than not driven at 40-50 mph. The popular solution to this problem for Hood Canal Drive residents? Don’t expand the lanes and further encourage such speeds. The county, which would save anywhere from some $750,000 to $1.4 million by simply maintaining and not improving the road is not surprisingly in favor of the suggestion.

Will this at all solve the speeding problem?

Not a chance. Furthermore, folks who live on the route will still likely speed there as well.

Kitsap County should do two things here. First, it should reassess the limits. Sure everyone wants slower traffic in their neighborhood but on a route like this one, it’s simply not a realistic request. Second, it should try to get a Sheriff’s deputy or two up there once and awhile after the new limit is assessed to ticket speeders.

Why didn’t folks speed through Little Boston when the northern portion of Little Boston Road was being widened? Two reasons, the road doesn’t lend itself to speeding and neither do the police there. Kitsap County should take note of this and make the necessary changes.