Resident tells council speeding near VMI endangers pedestrians, asks for speed trailers or cameras
Summary
Lexington resident Daryl Lefebvre told the City Council Jan. 2 he regularly sees vehicles exceeding the 25 mph limit near Virginia Military Institute and urged the city to add speed trailers or cameras; the city manager agreed to follow up and connect him with staff.
Daryl Lefebvre, an independent minister and Lexington resident, urged the City Council on Jan. 2 to address frequent speeding and crosswalk noncompliance near the Virginia Military Institute.
Lefebvre described walking his dog twice daily and seeing drivers “doing 40, 50” miles per hour in areas posted at 25 mph. “People don't pay. No never mind to the crosswalk,” he said, and described instances where drivers nearly caused rear‑end collisions while failing to stop for pedestrians.
He said a police officer called him after he filed a complaint and told him the department was short‑staffed and that the city has only one speed‑monitoring trailer. Lefebvre asked whether Lexington could use automated speed enforcement—“put up a speed camera, like the big cities do”—and mentioned a community‑purchased speed trailer on a local yard‑sale page as an example of a relatively low‑cost option.
The mayor asked the city manager to follow up with Lefebvre after the meeting and connect him with staff to explore possible actions, including additional speed trailers, enforcement adjustments or other traffic‑calming measures.
Why it matters: Pedestrian safety in school, campus and downtown corridors is a recurring public concern; the resident asked the council to consider low‑cost enforcement tools and traffic calming while acknowledging enforcement resource limits.
What’s next: The city manager will follow up with Lefebvre and report on feasible traffic‑calming or enforcement options.
