Set a community 45mph speed limit on Rt 512 from East Bangor to Mount Bethel PA
The Issue
**UPDATE OCT 19!!** WE NEED EACH OF YOU TO CONTACT THE TOWN! PennDOT says they will do a safety study but only at request of Upper Mount Bethel Township. New website with more info and urgent action items required to bring this to the attention of the Town Board of Supervisors and PennDOT! https://mountbethelhwy.org/
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Every day, I drive along Route 512, a road that stretches from East Bangor to Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, and I worry. This 2.8-mile stretch (starting at Slate Belt Little League field running to just past East Bangor border) sees a mixture of speeds, from 35mph throught the village to 55mph on a straightaway—which drivers ignore and recklessly hit Interstate speeds. Even at night, people in sports cars and motorcycles drag race down this stretch at night, hitting speeds that sound closer to 70-80mph. Enforcement seems lax.
Otherwise, the ENTIRE 26-mile length of 512 from Hanover to East Bangor on the south side is 40-45mph (30-35 thru villages). Perhaps it was an oversight that our community was left out of safety considerations.
Imagine navigating a roadway where blind spots are plentiful. One moment, you have a clear view for a safe distance, and the next, a hill obscures what lies ahead as you try to pull out of a side road or driveway. It's not just cars we need to think about. There are school buses, farm tractors, and large tractor-trailers pulling out of businesses and driveways. There are also vulnerable communities—elderly individuals, children walking home from school, people walking or biking home, family pets and local wildlife wandering just near the shoulder of the road. The local post office also drives along the shoulder daily to deliver mail.
My family, and perhaps yours too, have encountered numerous close calls while trying to enter or exit our driveways along this route. Let's not wait for tragedies to prompt change. Reducing the speed limit consistently to 45mph is a simple and effective solution that could prevent accidents and save lives.
A 10mph reduction along this short 2.8 mile segment would only add a mere ** 40 seconds ** to travel time along this entire section.
Consider the statistics: according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed contributes to about 26% of all traffic fatalities annually in the U.S. Lowering speeds not only significantly reduces the risk of accidents but also the severity when they occur.
By standardizing the speed limit to 45mph on this essential corridor, we can create a safer environment for everyone who travels along it. Let's urge the local municipalities at town meetings and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to act swiftly and make this critical change. Sign this petition and let your voice be heard. Together, we can create safer roads for our community.
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The Issue
**UPDATE OCT 19!!** WE NEED EACH OF YOU TO CONTACT THE TOWN! PennDOT says they will do a safety study but only at request of Upper Mount Bethel Township. New website with more info and urgent action items required to bring this to the attention of the Town Board of Supervisors and PennDOT! https://mountbethelhwy.org/
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Every day, I drive along Route 512, a road that stretches from East Bangor to Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, and I worry. This 2.8-mile stretch (starting at Slate Belt Little League field running to just past East Bangor border) sees a mixture of speeds, from 35mph throught the village to 55mph on a straightaway—which drivers ignore and recklessly hit Interstate speeds. Even at night, people in sports cars and motorcycles drag race down this stretch at night, hitting speeds that sound closer to 70-80mph. Enforcement seems lax.
Otherwise, the ENTIRE 26-mile length of 512 from Hanover to East Bangor on the south side is 40-45mph (30-35 thru villages). Perhaps it was an oversight that our community was left out of safety considerations.
Imagine navigating a roadway where blind spots are plentiful. One moment, you have a clear view for a safe distance, and the next, a hill obscures what lies ahead as you try to pull out of a side road or driveway. It's not just cars we need to think about. There are school buses, farm tractors, and large tractor-trailers pulling out of businesses and driveways. There are also vulnerable communities—elderly individuals, children walking home from school, people walking or biking home, family pets and local wildlife wandering just near the shoulder of the road. The local post office also drives along the shoulder daily to deliver mail.
My family, and perhaps yours too, have encountered numerous close calls while trying to enter or exit our driveways along this route. Let's not wait for tragedies to prompt change. Reducing the speed limit consistently to 45mph is a simple and effective solution that could prevent accidents and save lives.
A 10mph reduction along this short 2.8 mile segment would only add a mere ** 40 seconds ** to travel time along this entire section.
Consider the statistics: according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed contributes to about 26% of all traffic fatalities annually in the U.S. Lowering speeds not only significantly reduces the risk of accidents but also the severity when they occur.
By standardizing the speed limit to 45mph on this essential corridor, we can create a safer environment for everyone who travels along it. Let's urge the local municipalities at town meetings and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to act swiftly and make this critical change. Sign this petition and let your voice be heard. Together, we can create safer roads for our community.
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Petition created on September 30, 2026