Johns Island resident continues to fight over speed bumps after second car hits tree

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – A Johns Island resident continues to push for change after he says a street in his neighborhood is a highway for drivers trying to drive through the neighborhood.

“Three years ago we had to say that this tree was hit by a speeding car,” says Kent Kise.

Kise has lived near Brittlebush Lane in Whitney Lakes on Johns Island for about eight years.

Kise and other residents say not much has changed since they last spoke about the issue.

“Every morning and every evening we see cars speeding around here at 40 to 50 miles per hour. It is dotted with sidewalks on both sides. We have children, pets, pedestrians,” says Kise.

Kise and his neighbors continue to fight for speed limits in the area and still have to deal with speeding drivers driving through their neighborhood around Maybank Highway.

“We have a track here called Brittlebush Speedway,” Kise said.

The nickname was coined by the neighborhood after residents said the constant through traffic to Maybank Highway caused safety concerns in the neighborhood

“It’s not about whether someone will be seriously injured if it happens,” Kise says.

Now community members say they've reached the final straw after another high-speed driver recently crashed into the same tree in their neighborhood.

“We had a very strong impact on the same tree in the same area. “So it shows how dangerous this area has become,” Kise said.

Speed ​​limits exist on other streets in the neighborhood, but not on Brittlebush Lane – that's where Kent sees it at its worst.

“Of all the areas that need speed calming and speed bumps, this section is right here… This is a very worthy place. If they want to prevent serious accidents, they have to do it now,” says Kise.

Live 5 brought these concerns to the City of Charleston's Public Works Department Director Robert Somerville, who says considering speed limits will take some work from the public due to the volume of street requests they receive.

He said a petition must first be submitted with at least 75% of residents in the area agreeing to the issue. A study would then have to be carried out that would prove that around 350 vehicles were traveling through the area at more than 20 miles per hour. Once proven, the proposal will be presented to the City Council for approval.

Once approved, Somerville said they will move forward with speed limits at the site.

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