Residents along Roxboro Road in Durham have dubbed the area “Reckless Roxboro,” citing frequent speeding cars as a major safety concern. Chris Perelstein, a local resident, recently captured alarming footage that underscores the urgent need for traffic changes. The video shows a speeding vehicle passing through an intersection as Perelstein crosses, highlighting the dangers posed to pedestrians.
“I felt the adrenaline rush as I saw a 4,000-pound SUV speeding through the intersection,” Perelstein said. “The driver clearly saw me but chose to take the risk anyway. We need to make it easier for everyone on the road.”
Perelstein’s roof-mounted camera system recorded a vehicle traveling at 52 mph in a 35 mph zone just half a block away. He has been posting these incidents on his X account, “RecklessRoxboro,” as part of an effort to urge city and county transportation leaders to reconfigure Roxboro Street, ideally converting it to a two-lane road to help slow down traffic.
In the summer, the city received $500,000 for design work aimed at transforming Roxboro Road. However, since the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) oversees the road, they hold the authority to approve or deny any proposed changes. An NCDOT spokesperson stated, “This project will be the first in North Carolina to transform roads of this type, taking into account traffic volume and impact. While we are committed to complying with Durham City’s timeline, it is important that we carefully evaluate this change in every way.”
To enhance pedestrian safety in the meantime, the city has painted three of the four crosswalks at the intersection of Roxboro and Elliott streets to improve visibility. Perelstein commented, “I think it makes a little bit of a difference. It’s more noticeable to those who are paying attention. However, if someone is comfortable speeding through an intersection, it’s just a drop in the bucket.”
Perelstein expressed his desire for the city to paint a fourth crosswalk to further improve safety. The city has also held information sessions and conducted a survey to gather public feedback on the project, with a summary of responses available for review.
As community advocates push for meaningful change on Roxboro Road, Bull City Citizen will continue to monitor developments and report on efforts to enhance safety for all road users.
