Our hearts ache when we recall the tragic incident that took the life of Angela Woodson, leaving her 3-month-old grandson, Roman, in the hospital fighting for his life, as she was preparing to make a routine left turn when a driver struck her vehicle from behind, propelling her into oncoming traffic. A semi-truck, unable to halt in time, was involved in the collision - a tragedy too enormous to bear.   

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident in Bells, Texas. Our town, like many others across the nation, is grappling with an increase in traffic accidents due to excessive speed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed-related crashes claimed 9,478 lives in the United States in 2019. This represents an alarming 26% of all traffic fatalities that year.

Addressing this pressing issue requires us to rethink our current traffic management strategies. An effective measure would be to reduce the permitted driving speed through town. Such a step can help prevent future tragedies, as a lower speed gives drivers more time to react and considerably lowers the risk and severity of a crash.  

We ask the town council of Bells, TX, to consider our plea. Let's actively work towards preserving the safety and lives of our residents.  We implore you to fight to implement a maximum speed of 30 mph in ALL 4 directions from the light at 69 & 56 running all the way to Hwy 82 on Hwy 69 and FM 1897 as well as to the post office to the west, the curve heading towards Whitewright and to the cemetery to the east.  The number of motorcycles, trucks and trailers, and semi-trucks that travel through our town is VERY LARGE.  These sand trucks have a hard time stopping when fully loaded, and when traveling at 55mph when the light turns yellow, makes it very difficult for them to stop.  PLEASE, let's pave the way towards a safer community. We urge every member of our community to sign this petition to demonstrate our collective resolve. Together, we can halt the needless loss of life on our roads.