Action Line # 121201 - Speeding in base housing

  • Published
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Concern: I live on Gaziantep street where four of my children play with any number of the other 20 or so kids that live on that street just about every day. I have only been here a month, but I have noticed there is a significant speeding issue on that road. I have seen U.S. personnel/spouses as well as the Turkish military exceeding the speed limit, sometimes by what appears to be by at least twice the posted limit. Obviously, I am legitimately concerned with the safety of my children, as well as the children of other families living on that road. There are some repeat offenders, and I am disappointed that there seems to be no enforcement in spite of the frequency of these infractions.

CE should consider installing multiple speed bumps before someone's kids get turned into one, or SFS needs to spend a few extra minutes in that area, or both. People seem to think that because it's a long stretch of road with no homes for a portion of it that it's not "housing" and therefore not 25 km per hour. I don't know, maybe they just look off base and ignore the dozen kids playing near, and in, the road. I'll do what I can to teach my kids to respect the road and be extra wary of vehicles, but others need to do their part as well.



Response: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I understand your concern and have directed our Security Forces to increase their housing area patrols by conducting additional speed enforcement checks with emphasis on Gaziantep Street. Speed limit signs and other signage or areas for painting warnings on the road are currently under review for visibility and location in housing areas. Also, our wing safety office is engaging now with an overall safety awareness campaign to educate the base through media and other creative means.

Additionally, Civil Engineering and Ground Safety will research the possibility of installing speed bumps on your street and others that are appropriate. Should you have any questions on this matter, please contact our CE Quality Assurance Flight at 676-7924 or Wing Ground Safety at 676-6405. Installation of speed bumps must also be coordinated with our Host Nation partners, and I will work with my counterpart to advocate for our families safety concerns and ask the TuRAF to adhere to posted speed limits, especially those who frequently transit the housing areas.

Again, thank you for bringing this issue to our attention and affording us the opportunity to make our base housing a safer place for you and all our valued residents.