Most people want to live in a safe neighborhood and community where their kids can play outside and residents can sleep soundly. Unfortunately, crime rates can increase due to a lack of involvement from local residents and reckless driving can lead to accidents. If you want to continue living in a safe environment, there are a few tips on how to keep your neighborhood streets safe.
Add Better Lighting
Theft and break-ins occur more often in neighborhoods that are dim and don’t have a lot of light because criminals like to hide out in the shadows. Streets that are brightly lit can cause them to be easier to spot, making it necessary to improve the lighting in the neighborhood. You not only want to rely on street lights, but it’s also important to request that neighbors turn on their porch lights. Motion-sensor lights also work well for entry points near the home and turn on if someone walks by.
Better lighting will also improve visibility for motorists and can reduce the risk of accidents that occur.
Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
Organizing a neighborhood watch program will allow you to find neighbors who are willing to make efforts to keep an eye out on each block. Schedule a meeting after contacting a law enforcement agency in the neighborhood. The meetings should be held every few months, which will allow everyone to discuss their concerns or address issues that need to be resolved. This is also the time you can find solutions to problems to improve the safety of the local area.
Using a neighborhood safety app will also allow different residents to post anything unusual or suspicious to make everyone aware. It’s also important to encourage the local law enforcement to attend safety events that are hosted to ensure they can establish a relationship. Law enforcement will take more action to protect the local area if they’re familiar with the residents.
Become Friends with Your Neighbors
A united neighborhood where everyone knows each other is often safer because residents tend to look out for one another more. It’s important to become familiar with the people you live closest to, which will allow you to have an extra set of eyes on your property.
You can also talk to your neighbors about traffic issues, whether drivers are running stop signs or speeding is present on certain streets. Working together to discuss issues can lead to installing street lights or more stop signs. Some neighbors can also pitch in to purchase safety signs for the streets to warn motorists of kids playing nearby.
Install Security Cameras
Consider encouraging the homeowners in the neighborhood to install surveillance cameras, which can provide more security and accountability. There will be more supervision of each block if residents are able to view the footage of poor driving or theft. If a criminal attempts to carry out a crime, the cameras can provide local law enforcement with the proof they need to prosecute the individual or discover who was guilty of the crime.
Learn the Latest Crime Trends
Researching the latest crime trends can allow you to safeguard the neighborhood and prepare for ways the area may be targeted. Knowing what’s occurring around the neighborhood can allow residents to take more precautions, whether it’s removing valuables that are in their cars or adding neighborhood watch signs on the streets.
Researching areas where drivers are the most ticketed can also allow you to discuss any improvements that can be made to help drivers slow down. You can work with the city to add traffic speed humps in specific areas in the neighborhood.
You don’t have to feel defenseless when crime rates begin to rise in the local area if you take the right steps. By acting quickly and joining forces with your neighbors, it can create a safer community that offers peace of mind.
