By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
UPPER FREEHOLD — After nearly being run off the road on numerous occasions while driving his children home from daycare, a Holmes Mill Road resident recently plunked down $140 for a radar gun to document the problem.
Sean Muto detailed the results of his do-it-yourself traffic analysis to the Upper Freehold Township Committee on May 3.
Of the 711 cars Mr. Muto clocked with his radar gun on Holmes Mill Road during commuting hours and weekends over a 10-day period, 80 percent were going above the 45-mph posted speeded limit. The good news, he said, is that most were not exceeding the speed limit by much. The bad news is how fast the rest were going.
”The concerning part is that the fastest cars on the road — and there were two within a 12 hour period — were doing 71,” Mr. Muto said. “That’s 26 mph over the speed limit. Someone doing 71 mph in a 45-mph zone during commuting hours is a concern when you have kids.
”We’ve already had a couple of accidents including one that occurred four or five weeks ago that took out a telephone pole and left about 400 residents without power,” Mr. Muto said. “I’m concerned about it, the neighbors around me are concerned about it, and rather than put together a petition and come to the township in that fashion I figured I’d bring forth actual data instead of anecdotal data.”
Township Committee members agreed the traffic on that road can be problematic.
”I know what he’s saying because I travel that road every day and it’s definitely true,” Township Committeeman Bob Faber said.
The Township Committee said they would ask the State Police to increase their presence on Holmes Mill Road in an effort to slow down speeders, but warned Mr. Muto it may prove to be only a temporary solution.
Mayor LoriSue Mount said the State Police had taken similar action on Meirs Road in the past and it had been successful in the short term until it was time for the troopers doing the traffic enforcement detail to move on.
”It was a good deterrent for awhile, but after a period of time you know what happens,” Mrs. Mount said.

