Driving at or below the 25-mph speed limit, unless posted otherwise, encourages those who may follow behind you to follow at a safe, respectful pace. Designed by Freepik

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Speeding on residential streets is one of the top complaints reported to the city of Citrus Heights General Services Department (GSD), according to a recent handout made publicly available at City Hall.

City studies show most vehicles travel above the posted 25-mph residential speed limit and that all drivers in the city contribute to this issue – including residents, commuters and school-aged drivers.

Specific statistics on the number of offenders cited for speeding by the Citrus Heights Police Department during the past year weren’t immediately available.

“The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) is dedicated to enhancing road safety through a thoughtful, targeted approach to traffic enforcement, particularly when it comes to speeding,” said city communications officer Marisa Brown, responding on behalf of the Citrus Heights Police Department.

What can residents do? Slow down. You may be driving faster than you should, according to the Citrus Heights Police Department.

Driving at or below the 25-mph speed limit, unless posted otherwise, encourages those who may follow behind you to follow at a safe, respectful pace.

Residents may speed because they are familiar and comfortable on the roadways they travel regularly, while others may use them as shortcuts.

Residents can play an important role by driving at safe speeds, avoiding cut-through traffic, and reporting roadway issues or speeding patterns to the City.

According to Brown, the city’s general services department actively works with the Citrus Heights Police Department to respond to speeding concerns “through a variety of efforts including targeted speed enforcement, education, and engineering strategies.”

Brown said damaged or missing traffic signs, potholes or vegetation blocking a driver’s the line of sight, should be promptly reported to General Services by phone at 916-727-4770 or email at: [email protected]

The recent city handout gives some helpful tips for motorists to consider and seeks to answer some general questions about common public speeding concerns and remedies.

Using residential streets as shortcuts also impacts neighborhood quality of life. Cut-through traffic tends to increase both noise and pollution and tends to decrease safety for children, pedestrians and pets.

“Citrus Heights Police Department employs the “Crime and Traffic in Citrus Heights” (CATCH) model, which directs resources strategically by drawing on key data sources such as primary collision factors, documented crash locations, resident reports and citizen complaints,” she said.

Statistics also show that most crashes occur close to home, so give yourself more time to react to unexpected events on the road, she noted.

Many studies have concluded that a driver’s speed is influenced by the existing conditions of a roadway, not the posted speed limit. As a result, changes in posted speed limits have little to no effect on vehicle speeds, according to the city.

For example, speed bump installations are generally only installed as a countermeasure on roadways which meet minimum criteria established by the city. Minimum criteria include the existing vehicles speeds, number of vehicles, proximity to adjacent stop or yield signs, and location of emergency vehicle response routes.

If residents notice vehicles speeding more at a particular time of day, or day of week, they should also call the Citrus Heights Police Department’s non-emergency number at 916-727-5500 to file a report.

“This ensures that officers focus patrols and enforcement efforts in the areas that present the greatest risks, including busy intersections and other identified high-problem zones,” Brown said.

Speeds within a block of unwarranted stop signs are typically unchanged. Drivers must slow down when approaching a stop sign but may often speed up quickly to make up for lost time. In addition, stopping and starting can cause an increase in tire and engine noise and an increase in air pollution.

“The Citrus Heights City Council has also adopted the Multi-Modal Transportation Safety Program (MMTSP) which is a great tool for residents to report speeding and other roadway safety concerns,” Brown said.

This approach was recently applied on San Juan Avenue and Macy Plaza Drive, where residents shared concerns about speeding.

As part of the resurfacing of both streets, proven speed-reducing roadway striping enhancements were incorporated into the final construction documents, she said.

Would more stop signs slow traffic on city streets?

When installed under the correct conditions, stop signs can increase intersection safety, according to the city.

Federal and state standards consider traffic speed, the number of vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, intersection sight distance, and the frequency of gaps in traffic to allow safe vehicle entry or pedestrian crossing.

Stop signs installed at locations which do not meet minimum requirements may decrease safety and cause additional problems. Unwarranted stop signs are often ignored by drivers on the main street, putting pedestrians and cross-traffic at higher risk, according to the city.

The city handout recognizes that too many signs can lead to “sign pollution” causing unnecessary distraction, often irritating and confusing drivers in the process.

Placing “Children at Play” signs may also have little effect on the behavior of motorists and give pedestrians, children and parents a false sense of security.

The public is advised to contact the city’s General Services Department at (916) 727-4770 or [email protected], or submit speeding concerns through its SeeClickFix service request at: citrusheights.net/ServiceRequests. 

To learn more about the city’s Multi-Modal Transportation Safety Program (MMTSP) to report speeding and other roadway safety concerns, visit citrusheights.net/MMTSP

For a complete listing of city streets which are planned for resurfacing during 2026, including an interactive map, visit citrusheights.net/PMP.