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CAPE CORAL - A Cape Coral resident tired of seeing cars race down his side street is taking matters into his own hands.

"We play in the back most of the time," said Sarah Foley, a single mother of a 2-year-old son, "because it's scary playing out front."

Foley's son, Connor, has a habit of running towards the road. He tried to several times when Fox 4 was there.

"I run after him really fast and grab him," said Foley. "Spank his butt, tell him don't go by the road."

Foley lives on Del Pine Drive - a busy side street near a Target shopping plaza - connecting Pine Island and Pondella.

Up until last week, there was no posted speed limit sign.

"They're coming down the street at 50, 60 miles per hour sometimes," said neighbor Billy Waddell. "The thought of something happening to Connor just breaks my heart and kills me."

Waddell took matters into his own hands. To send a message, he constructed his own speed limit. The spray-painted board informs drivers of the 30 mph speed limit and warns people to slow down.

"We get the guys come through with 4-wheel drives and they just haul butt down the road," said Waddell, "past our house revving their engines just to show off and there's no need for it."

Waddell posted another sign informing drivers of the speed limit. And has sat in his pickup truck for 10 days, five hours a day, waving a sign saying "30" at drivers.

"He's a great kid," said Waddell, "she's a great neighbor, a great mom...I'll do anything I can to watch out for them."

Foley called the sign "pretty awesome" and says she wasn't aware her street lacked a speed limit sign - until Waddell made one.

After speaking with a police officer, Waddell reached out to the city for help. They referred his concern to the Lee County Department of Transportation. After examining the road, the DOT determined Del Pine should have its own speed limit signs.

Two 30 mph signs were installed last week.

"We can't be everywhere at once," said Randy Serchie, the Lee County DOT Deputy Director. "And we appreciate when issues are brought to our attention. We hope we act on them quickly like in this case."

"I was really pleased," said Waddell.

While drivers are slowing down, Waddell says his hand-made signs aren't coming down. Because when it comes to Connor, they're not taking chances.

"Please slow down," said Foley. "When there's houses around you never know who lives there, little kids, little babies."

The new speed limit signs cost the county $200.

Matt Grant
mgrant@fox4now.com