Community members voice concerns about dangerous drivers on the Belt
By Jenna Wilson
Recent deadly crashes around St. Joseph, and specifically on the Belt Highway, are furthering concerns about safety for motorists.
Law enforcement officers say reckless driving on the Belt Highway has been a problem for a while now.
According to Sgt. James Tonn with the St. Joseph Police Department, many motorists are going three times above the speed limit.
“You can’t control all the environmental factors out there when you’re going two or three times the speed limit,” said Tonn. “You may be a great racer, but you don’t know what everybody else is up to and if they pull out in front of you and you can’t stop in time, maybe you don’t go home that day. It’s just not worth it.”
News-Press NOW spoke to a business on the Belt Highway, Niche of Time Jewelry, which is near where a fatal motorcycle crash occurred Saturday.
The business wasn’t open at the time of the crash, but employees say this area commonly sees traffic accidents and there’s an everyday concern with getting home safely.
“Sometimes it can be a little tough just trying to pull out of the parking lot of where businesses are to get onto the Belt Highway,” said Olivia Wynkoop, a diamond consultant at Niche of Time. “I have coworkers that decide to not drive on the Belt at all for that reason, there’s too much of a risk with all the speeding that is happening.
When it comes to dodging speeding vehicles and motorcycles on the Belt Highway, some drivers say you have to keep a keen eye and focus on your own driving if you want to make it home safely.
“Street racing is really noticeable at night over here, so you have to be careful,” said Amar Moore, a St. Joseph resident. “I just let them be and don’t try to fight them or get into any road rage incident. It’s tough for some people to do that, but you have to look out for yourself first. Not all, but most bikers are just focused on having fun and speeding.”
Police haven’t confirmed if the motorcycle crash was speed-related, but there has been a significant number of motorcycle fatalities that occurred in the past six months, and officers are going to step up enforcement in the area.
“When we’re seeing an issue like this often, we’re going to take enforcement and we’re going to have that roadside education with bikers on why they shouldn’t be recklessly driving,” Tonn said.
