As an administrator of Phillips Programs, I am most grateful to County Executive Ken Ulman, Police Chief William McMahon and the County Council for taking assertive steps to deter people from speeding past our Laurel school.

Phillips is located on a busy stretch of Whiskey Bottom Road between routes 1 and 198. Three staff members have been rear-ended while attempting to turn into our driveway, bus drivers have complained about cars bearing down on them as they arrive with students and numerous near-misses have been observed during pick-up/drop-off times and throughout the school day. The county has been extremely responsive, posting an officer near the school and even re-lining the road to create a turning lane into our lot.

Incredibly, people still swing dangerously around the turning vehicles, which include our buses, faculty, parents and visitors. The new cameras will permit the officer to help citizens elsewhere and may well deter speeders, preventing the accidents that they cause.

I would like to add our voice to the many perspectives that have been shared on this issue, and say that the entire Phillips community will unequivocally become safer as a result of this action. Thank you to all those who made it happen.

Lisa M. Ott

Columbia