Tali Letoi is a Multimedia Journalist and Producer at ABC 10News.
Along Gustavo Street and Jamacha Road in El Cajon , neighbors say speeding has been a long-standing and dangerous problem.Residents in the area say they’ve seen reckless driving for years, and worry it’s only getting worse.
“Reckless driving and speeding has become a bigger and bigger problem,” El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells said.City leaders say they’re seeing the impact firsthand, with more crashes where speed is a factor.Just last month, a violent crash in the area left one car split in half, sending three people to the hospital. While their injuries were not life-threatening, neighbors say it’s a clear example of what’s at stake.“There are spots in the city where people are driving fairly recklessly, and it's really time we do as much as we can to stop that,” Mayor Wells said.Now, the city is considering a new approach to slow drivers down.A proposed pilot program would install four automated warning systems across El Cajon — one in each council district. Using cameras or sensors, the system would send written warnings to drivers caught going more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit.“This is a way to really get people’s attention,” Wells added.Because California law does not allow automated systems to issue fines, the focus would be on changing driver behavior and collecting data on where speeding is happening most.For residents like Danny Palma, that’s a step in the right direction — but not the final solution.“Everybody is on the road here, and we need to address the speeding. We need to address the carelessness that’s been happening here,” Palma said.Palma is part of a local community group working with city leaders to push for safer streets. He says the issue has been building for years.“This isn’t an issue that we’re addressing that’s recent. We’re addressing an issue that’s decades long,” he said.While supportive of the proposed warning system, neighbors say they’d also like to see more enforcement and a stronger presence on the roads.City leaders say the pilot program is just one piece of a broader plan.Mayor Wells told ABC 10News they're considering other potential solutions including engineering changes like narrowing roads, adding stop signs or traffic signals and installing speed humps in certain neighborhoods.A community town hall focused on traffic calming is scheduled for April 21, where residents will have a chance to weigh in on the proposals.For neighbors along Gustavo and Jamacha, the hope is simple — slow drivers down before more people get hurt.
Car Crashes City Council El Cajon Gustavo Street Jamacha Road Reckless Driving Speeding Townhall
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southside neighbors urge the city council to save the Quincie Douglas Center from severe budget cutsJacqueline Aguilar joined KGUN 9 as a multimedia journalist in February of 2024.
Read more »
California congressional candidate faces criticism over military service claims in campaign materialsKarina Vargas joined the ABC 10News team in Jan. 2026 as a Multimedia Journalist.
Read more »
San Diego drivers await gas price relief as the Strait of Hormuz reopensLaura Acevedo joined the ABC 10News team in April 2017 as a reporter and multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Proposed MTS fare increases could make daily commutes a tougher rideDani Miskell joined the ABC 10News team as a multimedia journalist in Oct. 2023.
Read more »
Search and rescue operation forces closure of popular Zion National Park trailsChris Reed is a multimedia journalist covering St. George.
Read more »
Adams 14 School District responds to parent concerns over communication during active shooter scareDanielle Kreutter is a multimedia journalist for Denver7 KMGH in Denver, Colorado.
Read more »