By unanimous consent, the Members of the Quail Creek Homeowners’ Association, on October 21, 2014 during the Annual Meeting plead for all members to consider the following resolution for the protection of our community.
A RESOLUTION FOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE INSIDE OF THE QUAIL CREEK SUBDIVISION
Whereas, Quail Creek is a family oriented rural neighborhood, which requires a “commuter lifestyle” for most;
Whereas, many Quail Creek families drive multiple vehicles in and out of the neighborhood several times each day;
Whereas, people of all ages walk &/or run as well as ride their bikes in and around the neighborhood;
Whereas, there are many children who are part of our community ranging in ages from newborn to high school;
Whereas, children sometimes play &/or congregate on our streets;
WHEREAS, children can run onto the street without regard or respect to oncoming traffic;
WHEREAS, studies demonstrate that children do not match adults in their ability to detect an automobile’s approach, where they cannot reliably detect a car approaching at speeds higher than 20 miles per hour and is why the third leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 9 years old is getting hit by a car, and children up to age 15 make up a disproportionate number of pedestrian casualties worldwide; [1]
Whereas, at various times of the day and night there are children on our streets that operate low profile, conveyance devices, like tricycles, pedaled and foot propelled cars & trucks while others operate motorized vehicles like golf carts, go carts, motorcycles, scooters, and many others that that lack motor vehicle visibility & safety standards;
Whereas, children that operate conveyance devices of any kind on our streets and driveways can exhibit erratic control and perform unpredictably;
Whereas, in violation of neighborhood restrictions, there are occasions where Quail Creek family pets run loose, on our streets into oncoming traffic;
Whereas, the homes in Quail Creek have large stone/brick mailboxes that can easily conceal the presence of a person or animal from an oncoming motorist;
Whereas, in an effort to ensure safety for all, the subdivision was established with a posted speed limit of 20mph to help ensure that motorists have ample time to react to changing conditions;
WHEREAS, excessive speed above 20mph can pose a danger to the safety and well being to anyone who is on or next to the streets;
Whereas, the combination of excessive speed and driver distraction is the single greatest contributor of motor vehicle fatality accidents against pedestrians inside of neighborhoods with posted speeds of 30mph or less;[2]
Whereas, pedestrians in Quail Creek expect motor vehicles to adhere to the established and posted speed limit;
Whereas, driver inattention and excessive motor vehicle speed can be common for families in Quail Creek whose schedules are hectic and where time is precious;
WHEREAS, distractions that come from inside a vehicle can further inhibit a driver’s ability to observe and react to unforeseen obstacles on a street;
WHEREAS, distractions include talking to passengers, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, and most alarming of all is the use of mobile phone devices, especially texting, which requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver;
Whereas, some motorists in Quail Creek are observably inattentive or distracted and fail to obey the posted speed limit and/or stop signs;
Whereas, many neighbors have observed close calls that could have resulted in the injury or worse to people, other vehicles, and/or property;
Whereas, in a County as large as Rockwall, it is unlikely that local law enforcement can dedicate time to enforce the posted speed limits or stop signs; and
Whereas, for homeowners, honoring the posted speed limit and stops signs is less about adhering to the law and more about showing respect for neighbors as well as demonstrating care and concern for the safety and well being of everyone.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, as Homeowners and Members of the Quail Creek Homeowners’ Association, affirm our care and concern for the safety and well being of all who use our streets, especially the children who are vulnerable to being hit by a motor vehicle, and declare our commitment to drive responsibly as a demonstration of our respect to others while operating a motor vehicle on the streets of our neighborhood.
RESOLVED, we shall hold the members of our family who operate a motor vehicle inside of our subdivision to the same standard.
RESOLVED, when we observe our guests &/or visitors failing to meet these standards, we will encourage them to drive responsibly when operating a motor vehicle on the streets inside of the Quail Creek neighborhood.
[1] Reference: Why Kids Get Hit By Cars, by Wray Herbert; March 15, 2011, Association for Psychological Science. http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/full-frontal-psychology/why-kids-get-hit-by-cars.html
[2] Reference: Distraction.gov, the official US Government website for Distracted Driving (http://www.distraction.gov)