In their survey responses, three-quarters of Williamsburg residents reported speeding as a serious problem on their neighborhood streets. There is a growing concern about the heavy volume of traffic and accompanying noise on principle arterial streets, cut-through traffic, excessive speeding, failure of drivers to obey traffic laws and observe speed limits, declining pedestrian safety, and on-street parking problems around neighborhood schools.

The high volume of traffic and the excessive speed of many vehicles has led to growing concerns regarding the safety of both pedestrians and neighborhood drivers. The topography of Williamsburg, with its rolling hills and numerous curves, also contributes to dangerous conditions by increasing the number of blind spots on streets and in intersections.

The majority of neighborhood streets in Williamsburg are narrow, two-lane streets designed to carry only local residential traffic. A heavy volume of cut-through traffic can make these narrow streets dangerous. Williamsburg residents strongly support active measures which will discourage or minimize the use of neighborhood streets as major thoroughfares in order to reduce the disruption and threat of through traffic to residents and their children.