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Residents urge stepped‑up enforcement on 20th Avenue after crashes near senior housing
Summary
Several residents described collisions and near‑misses on 20th Avenue near senior apartments and care facilities, urging more police monitoring, targeted enforcement and potential traffic engineering changes to prevent fatalities.
Multiple residents told the Safford City Council on Jan. 27 that speeding on 20th Avenue has become a safety hazard for seniors, people using motorized wheelchairs and families.
"We need the area to be patrolled and monitored more than it has been," said Jerry Hancock during public comment, citing a recent crash that hit a mother and three children and describing heavy traffic near care facilities.
Mary Bingham said a vehicle she estimated at about 55 mph struck her daughter‑in‑law and grandchildren and urged a consistent police presence similar to enforcement near the high school. "That little red truck was going 55 miles an hour when it slammed into them," she said.
Sheila Hartner, who lives adjacent to the intersection, described drivers running red lights and suggested unmarked enforcement, short‑term concentrated patrols and re‑examining signal timing or a turn signal at 8th and 20th.
Council members thanked the speakers; staff said the city can provide the council communication/request form and track follow‑ups. Council later listed the 20th Avenue situation as a future agenda item and asked staff to consider patrols, engineering changes and coordination when new apartments and an RV park increase corridor traffic.
