An automobile is a great means of transportation, but a powerful weapon with the wrong person behind the wheel.

Just stand at any main thoroughfare with a busy intersection and watch. Most motorists are generally responsible, stopping at a red light, cautiously entering a school zone, or using extra care in a neighborhood full of children.

But some drivers are dangerous. Steering through traffic at high rates of speed, texting or maneuvering through traffic in an erratic manner while ignoring basic traffic laws – these aggressive drivers believe the roads belong solely to them.

Today, Cullman County has a lot of heavily-traveled roads. The rise of the City of Cullman as a regional shopping and medical destination ensures that U.S. 31 & 278 and Alabama 157 are often congested. That congestion, mixed in with the usual school traffic, creates a need for patience at peak driving hours.

The Cullman Police Department has officers who specialize in traffic control, and some days they seem to be in so many places at once dealing with wrecks and other traffic issues – little doubt they could use some additional officers but budget restraints are hard to overcome (the same is true for other area law enforcement agencies).

If drivers would remember to slow down and be good defensive drivers, getting behind the wheel would be so much better.

Additionally, the business community is looking for more foot traffic, particularly in downtown Cullman. But crossing U.S. 278 from either side of the downtown district can be risky with the volume and speed of traffic moving east and west.

Big trucks, pickup trucks, cars and motorcycles can commonly be seen ignoring a changing yellow to red light where U.S. 31 intersects U.S. 278 to 4th Avenue on a regular basis. That’s some four blocks of terror for a pedestrian wanting to cross the street. For sure, it’s not the only four blocks of traffic issues locally, but for those who drive it on a regular basis, there can be white-knuckle moments.

Speed is the main culprit in traffic accidents, a fact that Alabama State Troopers continue to stress. With so many people enjoying downtown Cullman, it’s time for a speed limit reduction on U.S. 278 to receive strong consideration. However, changing the speed limit will take a lot of lobbying with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Downtown has increasingly become a destination for shopping and family-friendly events. The city and business community are partnering in creating an area where people of all ages can be comfortable in this historic, but trendy, setting – safe streets are part of that equation.

We understand the vast majority of drivers sooner or later will stretch a traffic law. However, our plea, along with that of local law enforcement, is to slow down, don’t text and drive – an area of constant concern – and observe traffic laws, including not hitting the acceleration peddle to get through that next yellow light…stop and be a few minutes late, it’s definitely better than the alternative.